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A Prince of the Blood 


A NOVEL 



JULIUS A. LEWIS 


P 




NEW YORK 1898 



COPYRIGHT, 1897, 
BY JULIUS A. LEWIS 


TROW DIRECTORY 

PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY 
NEW YORK 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I. A Great Discovery, . 

PAGE 

... 5 

II. 

The Missing Agent, 

. . . i6 

III. 

In Strange Hands, . 

. 27 

IV. 

The Smugglers' Home, . 

. . . 40 

V. 

A Mighty Arm, . 

00 

VI. 

Carlin's Benefactor, . 

. . . 58 

VII. 

The Suspicious Letter, . 

. 71 

VIII. 

The Committee of Four, 

00 

0 

IX. 

A Romance of Long Ago, 

. 91 

X. 

Proofs, . . . * 

. . . 106 

XI. 

A Great Example, 

. . . 116 

XII. 

The Eldest Son, 

126 

XIII. 

Preparations, 

• 139 

XIV. 

Mr. Barlow, . 

. 150 


iv CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XV. Tom's Holiday, 162 

XVI. The Exodus, 176 

XVII. Looking Forward, 188 

.XVIII. The Stranger, 200 

XIX. A Sacrifice, 213 

XX. The Last of the Orion, ... 225 

XXL Hope Deferred, 236 


XXII. A Lost Cause. 


247 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


CHAPTER I. 

A GREAT DISCOVERY. 

A vast curtain of fleecy mist seemed to hang be- 
tween the declining October sun and the lofty 
towers of the great metropolis of the western world. 
At the feet of the towers surged countless currents 
of hurrying, bustling life. And through the heart 
of the region inundated by heaving human billows 
there whirled one huge, resistless eddy, which with 
its roar and with its rush seemed to dwarf all of the 
minor streams that acted merely as its tributaries. 

This restless, deafening vortex was Broadway. 

Here and there the intersecting cross streets al- 
lowed great slats of hazy brightness to fall from the 
lightly curtained sun athwart the great flood of hur- 
rying humanity. One of the broad beams of sub- 
dued sunlight fell upon a group of loiterers who had 
5 


6 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


emerged from the rushing throngs in order to gaze 
upon the contents of the show window of a print- 
shop which occupied a corner basement. One of 
the loitering group was a short, smooth-faced man 
with small, penetrating eyes that were set far back 
under a pair of dark, shaggy brows. The man 
seemed to be looking mechanically at the prints in 
the shop window. His thoughts evidently were in- 
tent upon other matters. 

Suddenly a change appeared to have come over 
the man. His mechanical glance had given place to 
a fixed gaze. The object which had chained his at- 
tention was a large and a well-executed print which 
bore the inscription Bonnie Prince Charlie.’’ It 
was a copy of a work by John Pettie. Charles Ed- 
ward, the younger Pretender, was represented in 
Highland costume in front of two earnest-faced 
Scotch nobles whose hearts, it was very plain, had 
been thoroughly enlisted in the Stuart cause. Evi- 
dently they did not regret the fact that their lives 
and their fortunes had been staked upon the suc- 
cess of the princely youth before them. 

Yet there was nothing in this picture which 
seemed to account for the intense interest which it 
had aroused in the mind of the man who was gazing 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


7 


at it so fixedly. At length he uttered a deep sigh 
and, moving from the window, turned down the 
cross street, along which he walked briskly for a 
couple of blocks. Then entering a tall office build- 
ing he was carried by a swift elevator to the top 
floor. Proceeding down a passage-way he came to 
a door on which was marked the number of the 
room, ‘‘ 128.’’ Just beneath the number was the 
name, P. Fitzpatrick.’’ Pie entered the room, 
which was large and well furnished, and found its 
single occupant, an elderly gentleman with snow- 
white hair and whiskers, engaged in going over a 
pile of written slips. The old gentleman looked up 
inquiringly at his visitor. 

Don’t expect too much of me, Mr. Fitzpatrick,” 
said the stout man. 

‘‘ I can’t say that I expected anything,” said the 
old gentleman. ‘‘ But seeing you come in I couldn’t 
help^ — hoping.” 

‘‘ I have simply to report, Mr. Fitzpatrick, that 
I have found no traces of the desired person.” 

‘‘ And yet,” muttered the old man, with an air of 
conviction, ‘‘ that person is in existence, and I 
fully believe is somewhere in the vicinity of New 
York.” 


8 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


‘‘ A very small needle in a very large haystack/’ 

‘‘ But you are well paid for searching for that 
needle. You know that, Carlin.” 

‘‘ Oh, I am not complaining,” replied the other. 
“ I am doing my work earnestly and thoroughly. 
But may I ask, sir, why you feel so certain that he 
is in existence? ” 

The old man looked at Carlin as if the last remark 
were of an astonishing nature, and exclaimed: 

‘‘ What, have you any doubts about the matter 
yourself? You should know as well as I do that 
Charles Edward, the so-called younger Pretender 
to the English throne, did not die without issue, as 
is generally supposed; that his lineal descendants 
have been traced by us to the present generation, 
and that the enterprise of placing the real heir of the 
house of Stuart on the throne of his fathers is not a 
madcap delusion, as the ordinary observer would 
imagine at first sight ” 

‘‘ I am thoroughly convinced,” interrupted Car- 
lin, that the project would be a feasible one, 
though it might seem the very reverse to one who is 
not in possession of the facts which we are familiar 
with.” 

‘‘ Would be, you say? ” muttered Fitzpatrick, un- 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


9 


easily, as if the mere notion of a doubt in this con- 
nection worried him. 

‘‘ I say, would be, Mr. Fitzpatrick, for the reason 
that although we have traced the true heir of the 
throne to this country, ^we cannot lay our hands 
upon him. We really are not even sure of the fact 
that he still exists.” 

But he does exist! ” said the old gentleman, im- 
petuously. “ Providence would never allow that 
seed to become extinct ! Something tells me that he 
not only lives, but is near us at this moment. Ire- 
land's — aye, and Great Britain's — deliverance is at 
hand.” Here the old gentleman sprang to his feet. 
His eye blazed, while a tremor of enthusiasm shook 
his frame, as he exclaimed : ‘‘ The King shall have 
his own again! The Lord hath willed it! ” 

The old man's enthusiasm seemed to touch the 
doubter, Carlin, who now said, in an encouraging 
tone: 

Let us hope so; let us hope so.” 

Carlin then told Mr. Fitzpatrick about his having 
been struck by the picture of the Stuart Prince in the 
shop window. 

“ It is exactly like the portrait I have seen of him,” 
he said. 


lo A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 

Then I will buy the picture at once! '' exclaimed 
Fitzpatrick, who hurriedly prepared himself for the 
street, leaving his work spread out upon the desk. 

A few moments later the old gentleman and Car- 
lin stood in front of the show window of the print- 
shop. While they were gazing at the picture of 
Prince Charlie a clerk of the establishment appeared 
in the window and reached up his hand in order to 
secure one of the prints that was on exhibition. 

“ I hope it is not our print that has been sold,’’ 
muttered the old gentleman. 

The clerk paused. Probably it had occurred to him 
that he might be mistaken as to the picture which 
it was his duty to remove from the show window. 
Just then Carlin gave an exclamation of astonish- 
ment, and whispered to Fitzpatrick: 

‘‘ Look! ” 

‘‘ I am looking,” replied the old gentleman. 

‘‘ But you are not looking at the clerk! ” 

‘‘ Carlin, I am looking at the clerk. What of 
him?” 

‘‘ Look at him closely — don’t you see the resem- 
blance? ” 

Fitzpatrick gave a start. He now discovered that 
the clerk who was standing in the window bore a 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


II 


striking resemblance to the Stuart Prince in the 
picture. 

Carlin/’ whispered the old gentleman, ‘‘ it may 
be he!” 

The young man who bore the striking resem- 
blance to the picture of Prince Charlie now se- 
lected one of the prints and withdrew from the 
window. 

“ The resemblance is startling! ” Carlin replied. 

And you will ” 

Of course I will look him up^ and whatever there 
is to be found out concerning him will be found out 
by Terance Carlin.” 

I don’t doubt that, Carlin.” Then the old gen- 
tleman added, eagerly, You will report to me as 
soon as possible? ” 

“ Certainly I will. If I learn anything before mid- 
night I will go to your house; and if it should be 
after midnight I will go to your office in the morn- 
ing.” 

“No, Carlin,” interrupted the other; “come to 
my house at once if you should learn anything defi- 
nite — no matter at what hour.” 

“ But why should I interrupt your sleep? ” 

“ Sleep! Why, man, do you imagine that I shall 


12 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


sleep before I learn the result of your investiga- 
tions? ’’ 

After exchanging a few words more in low tones 
Fitzpatrick and Carlin parted. Leaving the latter to 
look after the young clerk, who to them had sud- 
denly become so interesting a personage, the old 
gentleman returned to his office. Here he resumed, 
in a nervous, absent-minded way, the work with 
which he had been occupied when Carlin had en- 
tered the room. Shortly after five o’clock Fitzpat- 
rick left his office. The temptation to again glance 
into the print-shop window was strong within him. 

But I can do no good by prying around there,’’ 
he thought; ‘‘ and my presence in the neighborhood 
might simply serve to embarrass Carlin.” 

Accordingly he made his way by a somewhat cir- 
cuitous route to a neighboring elevated railway sta- 
tion. Three-quarters of an hour later he reached 
his bachelor home on the top floor of a handsome 
apartment house in West Ninety-eighth Street. 
After Fitzpatrick had dined he entered his snug lit- 
tle library, and unlocking a small safe, he took out 
a package of papers, which he began to go over in 
an eager manner. 

While he was thus engaged the only sounds which 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


13 


were to be heard in the room were the ticking of the 
clock on the mantel and the rustle of the papers in 
his unsteady hands. At length the old gentleman 
completed his examination of the papers. Laying 
these down he sprang up and with nervous strides 
paced up and down the little library. 

'' Never was a case made out more clearly than 
this/’ he thought. ‘‘ The statement of Janet Lamont 
is convincing. There can be no doubt of her mar- 
riage to Charles Edward during his unfortunate 
campaign to gain for his father the crown that had 
been his birthright. The marriage certificate, made 
out by the priest who united Janet Lamont with 
Charles Edward, is undoubtedly genuine. Then 
there were valid reasons why, after the temporary 
failure of the Stuart cause and the flight of Charles 
Edward, the Princess Janet should have desired to 
keep her marriage a secret, why she should journey 
to London, why she should have represented herself 
to be a Mrs. Charles Lamont. There were also valid 
reasons why Charles Edward, having received false 
intelligence of his wife’s death, should have re- 
mained silent in regard to the marriage. Then there 
is the record of the marriage of the son of the Stuart 
Prince and Janet Lamont, who went by the name of 


14 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Richard Charles Lament, and the birth of his heir, 
Stephen John Lament; in fact, there is the record 
of the birth and of the marriage of every link in the 
royal chain, from Charles Edward to Henry La- 
ment, who came to New York in the ship Orkney 
in the year 1838. The evidence which we have to 
support his claim, or that of his lawful heir, to the 
throne of England is complete. If it should only 
turn out that we have lit upon the right scent, what 
a tremendous upheaval in the affairs of the world 
may be the result of this day's work." 

Just then there was a rap upon the door of the 
study. 

Come in," said Fitzpatrick, with a fast-beating 
heart. 

The door opened and his servant appeared with a 
letter. It was addressed to Patrick Fitzpatrick, 
Esq.," in a hand which the old gentleman seemed 
instantly to recognize. He seized the letter and 
hastily tore open the envelope. The contents had 
been written in a cipher, which he speedily suc- 
ceeded in translating. The letter, which was neither 
dated nor signed, read as follows : 


Will report my investigation to you in full before 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


15 

morning. The person whom we saw is not the heir 
to the throne, but he may become so, for he is a 
Prince of the blood. He goes by the name of 
Thomas Martel. He has an elder brother named 
Henry, but he is a son of the personage who is 
known to his few acquaintances as Alfred Martel, 
yet who in reality is Alfred Stuart, the rightful heir 
to the throne of Great Britain. I will soon know 
where he is to be found, and you will be able to offer 
him your allegiance within four-and-twenty hours. 
God save the King! ’’ 

God be praised! exclaimed Fitzpatrick. 

The old gentleman replaced the papers he had 
been examining, together with the letter from Car- 
lin, in the safe. Then he seated himself and waited 
for the coming of Carlin. Mechanically he extended 
his ear toward the door. Evidently he was anxious 
to hear the first sounds of the approach of one who 
was to bring him further news of the great dis- 
covery. 


CHAPTER 11. 


THE MISSING AGENT. 

The clock had announced the arrival of another 
day, and Fitzpatrick still sat in the same expectant 
position, waiting for the coming of Carlin. 

He said that he would report to me before morn- 
ing,'' thought the old gentleman. ‘‘ It seems ages 
since I have received the letter, and yet Carlin has 
several hours more in which to make good his prom- 
ise." 

The first hour of the new day passed without the 
desired sounds reaching the ear of Fitzpatrick. Two 
o'clock sounded. He still sat expectantly waiting for 
Carlin's arrival. The clock named three. The old 
gentleman had scarcely moved during the past hour, 
but his look was now more eager than before. 

He must be here soon," he muttered. 

Another hour passed ; and still Carlin had not ar- 
rived. A shade of anxiety had stolen into Fitzpat- 
rick's face. At length he heard the clock call five. 

What can be the matter with him? " he thought, 

i6 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


n 


and with an uneasy gesture he rose and began to 
pace the floor. 

When the clock struck six Fitzpatrick drew aside 
the curtains and gazed mechanically out upon the 
city street, which looked grim and chill in the gray 
dawn. The sky was obscured by thick clouds which 
seemed to threaten a storm. 

‘‘ I cannot account for Carlin's failure to keep his 
promise," Fitzpatrick thought, as he flung himself 
upon the sofa; but he soon sprang up, and entering 
his chamber sought to refresh himself by dashing 
cold water upon his face. Shortly after seven 
o'clock he entered the dining-room. His servant, 
an elderly man of a discreet countenance, had just 
appeared with his breakfast upon a tray. While he 
was transferring the dishes to the table Fitzpatrick 
asked the man who it was that had brought the let- 
ter for him the previous evening. 

He was a slender young man, scarcely of age," 
was the reply. It was the same messenger who 
brought you a letter one night last week." 

'' I wonder where Carlin ran across Peter? " 
thought Fitzpatrick. “ He could hardly have taken 
the trouble to hunt up the lad in order to send the 
letter by him." 


i8 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


The old gentleman waited in his apartments until 
nine o'clock in the hope of seeing Carlin; but the 
latter did not put in an appearance, nor did any 
further message arrive from him. 

Probably he completed his work at so late an 
hour that he believed he would be more likely to 
find me at the office," was his reflection. 

Although this thought passed through the mind 
of Fitzpatrick, he was also conscious of vague mis- 
givings that something was wrong with Carlin. 
But being naturally an optimist he stubbornly re- 
fused to allow these misgivings to assume the dig- 
nity of an actual thought. 

It was nearly ten o'clock when he entered the ele- 
vator which.bore him to the floor on which his office 
was situated. He had hoped to see Carlin waiting 
for him in the passage-way outside the office. 

The old gentleman's face fell when he discovered 
that there was no one in the passage-way. He un- 
locked his door and then eagerly examined the con- 
tents of his letter-box. None of the letters found 
there proved to have come from Carlin, nor did any 
throw light upon the subject now uppermost in the 
mind of Fitzpatrick. While he was glancing over 
the last of his letters he heard footsteps coming 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


19 


down the passage-way. He hastily opened the door 
and saw a messenger, who bore a telegram ad- 
dressed to him. This proved to have been sent by a 
purely business acquaintance and upon a purely 
business matter. 

After an hour of anxious waiting Fitzpatrick put 
on his hat and, locking the office, descended to the 
street. He made his way toward Broadway, and as 
he entered the great thoroughfare he paused and 
glanced into the basement print-shop. 

Prince Charlie still stood in the window — or at 
least his picture did so; but of the supposed descend- 
ant of that unfortunate Stuart, Fitzpatrick saw 
nothing. 

The old man sighed deeply, and then an idea 
seemed to strike him: for he hurriedly bent his 
steps toward a cable-car which had just drawn up in 
the street opposite to him. At Grand Street he 
alighted from the car and proceeded westward for a 
block. Then he entered a large building occupied 
almost entirely by importing houses. Ascending to 
the top floor he knocked upon a door on which was 
painted the word Janitor.” A slender youth 
answered the knock. 

You brought me a letter last night, Peter,” said 
Fitzpatrick. 


20 A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 

'' Yes, sir,” replied the boy. 

Who gave it to you? ” 

Why, sir, wasn’t Mr. Carlin’s name written in- 
side?” 

Then he gave it to you himself? ” 

Yes, sir; he handed it to me — it was at the cor- 
ner of Thirty-fourth Street and Broadway. He 
touched me on the shoulder and said he was looking 
for a messenger-boy to carry a letter to you, sir. 
And he gave it to me, sir, with a dollar bill for my- 
self, and he said I wasn’t to wait for any answer.” 

Peter, did you notice anything strange about 
Mr. Carlin when he gave you the letter? ” 

No, sir; not that I remember.” 

'' Did you notice in which direction he went after 
he had given you the letter? ” 

‘‘ He went down Broadway, sir.” 

You are sure. of that, Peter? ” 

I am certain of it, because after I had gone a lit- 
tle ways I turned ’round and saw him looking out 
of the corners of his eyes at a young couple that was 
walking past him, going downtown. The young 
lady was dressed fine and the gentleman had his 
head part way turned round, and was looking kind 
of sweet at her ” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


21 


‘‘Was he well built and tall, with a rather long 
but at the same time a full face? ’’ 

“Yes, sir; and though he wasn’t dressed very 
fine he looked as if he came from good folks.” 

“ It was the young Prince,” muttered Fitzpatrick, 
and added aloud: 

“ And did Carlin follow the young couple? ” 

“ He did, sir; they hadn’t got more than a couple 
of rods beyond Mr. Carlin when he started down the 
street after them, walking exactly as fast as they 
walked.” 

“ Did you notice anything else, Peter? ” 

“ No, sir, except that ” 

“ That what, my lad? ” 

“ That when he had gone about a couple of rods 
two men, rough-looking chaps, but well dressed; 
they must have been English — Pm quite sure they 
were — Anyhow, the two of them started down the 
street, walking just as fast as Mr. Carlin walked.” 

“ Did they seem to follow Carlin in the same way 
that he was following the young couple? ” 

“ Now I think of it, sir, that was exactly how those 
two Englishmen was following Mr. Carlin.” 

Mr. Fitzpatiick gave a low whistle, and looked 
very grave. 


22 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


'' What if they were a couple of English secret- 
service agents? ’’ bethought. Can it be that they 
are responsible for Carlin’s failure to put in an ap- 
pearance? ” 

He now cut short his interview with Peter and 
hurried down to the street. Proceeding back to 
Broadway he boarded a car, from which he alighted 
at the corner opposite to the print-shop. Upon 
reaching the sidewalk he looked down into the shop. 
He could see the crown of a man’s head behind a 
high desk at the opposite end of the establishment. 

‘‘ It may be the young Stuart Prince,” thought 
Fitzpatrick as he approached the door. 

He entered the shop and walked down to the high 
desk. A young man with a pen behind his ear now 
made his appearance from behind the desk. But he 
in no way resembled the clerk for whom Fitzpatrick 
was looking. 

“ Can I do anything for you, sir? ” asked the 
young man. 

Where is the clerk whom I saw here yesterday 
afternoon? ” 

“ Oh, that clerk? he is out. But can I do any- 
thing for you, sir? ” 

‘‘ I wish to see that clerk personally.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


23 


Then I will speak to the proprietor, sir/’ 

The young man withdrew behind the desk and 
Fitzpatrick heard a door open and shut. A moment 
later the door, which evidently led into the count- 
ing-room of the proprietor, was again heard to 
open. A well-dressed, little old man with gold- 
rimmed spectacles now came from behind the desk 
and looked up inquiringly at Fitzpatrick, who 
said: 

I wish to see a young clerk who was here yester- 
day; his name, I believe is Thomas Martel.” 

Do you wish to see him about anything in con- 
nection with this establishment? ” 

‘‘ No; I wish to see him personally.” 

Then I fear, sir, that I can be of no service to 
you in the matter, for young Martel left my employ 
last evening.” 

Then will you kindly give me his address? ” 

‘‘ I haven’t the slightest idea where it is.” 

“ You know his family, perhaps? ” suggested the 
old gentleman. 

‘‘ I know absolutely nothing about him,” was the 
reply. 

‘‘ Who recommended him to you? ” 

No one recommended him to me. He applied 


24 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


to me for employment about a month ago; his ap- 
pearance was satisfactory, so I employed him/’ 

But doesn’t your other clerk know anything 
about him? ” 

The proprietor of the shop made a peculiar at- 
tempt at a smile, and said in a low tone: 

'' There was a rivalry between the two young gen- 
tlemen, and they never spoke to each other except 
on matters connected with the business. In fact. 
Banks — that is the one you saw this morning — told 
me that he hadn’t the slightest idea where Martel 
lived, or where he could be found.” 

Fitzpatrick left the shop and turned his steps in 
the direction of his office. As ke entered the door 
of the building he was met by a newsboy, who 
offered him a copy of the early edition of the Evening 
Star. 

'' It tells all about the mysterious body what was 
fished up out of the bay,” urged the boy, as an in- 
ducement to purchase the newspaper. 

Fitzpatrick relieved the boy of one copy of his 
stock-in-trade, after which he made his way to his 
office. No communication had been left in his let- 
ter-box durin^^is absence. The old man seated 
himself and began mechanically to glance over the 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


25 


Evening Star, Under a series of bold and sensa- 
tional headings he found a brief account of the find- 
ing of the dead body of an unknown man in the bay 
that morning. It was uncertain whether the man 
had died naturally or from violence. The descrip- 
tion of the unknown man would have answered for 
one of Terance Carlin. 

With a feeling of dismay Fitzpatrick dropped the 
newspaper and sank into a chair. Just then a post- 
man entered the office with a letter bearing a Lon- 
don postmark. The old gentleman recognized the 
handwriting. Opening the letter, which was writ- 
ten in cipher, he quickly mastered its meaning. It 
was signed “ L. I. M. P.,’’ and when translated ran 
as follows : 

At a meeting of the Grand Council held a few 
days ago much disappointment was expressed at 
your failure to report progress in the great enter- 
prise that has been committed to your hands. With 
the clues that have been given to you the Stuart heir 
should have been found before this. Our organiza- 
tion is now complete throughout Great Britain and 
Ireland. But delay is dangerous to the cause. You 
must redouble your efforts to discover the true heir 


26 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


to the throne. If you do not speedily meet with suc- 
cess the Council will undoubtedly place the trust in 
other hands.” 

Fitzpatrick crushed the letter in his hands and, 
trembling with agitation, he paced unsteadily up and 
down the office. 

It is the old curse upon the Stuart cause,’' he 
muttered. At the moment that the prize is within 
our grasp Fate seems to snatch it from us! ” 


CHAPTER III. 

IN STRANGE HANDS. 

When Terance Carlin and Mr. Fitzpatrick had 
parted outside the print-shop the secret agent enter- 
tained high hopes that his lucky discovery of the 
likeness of the young clerk to the picture of Prince 
Charlie might result, among other things, in the 
making of his own fortune. After pretending to 
gaze into the shop window for a few moments Car- 
lin made his way across Broadway and proceeded 
up the street for a few blocks. Then turning round 
he walked down the street for several blocks. Any 
person who should have been at the trouble to have 
observed Carlin at all closely would have taken him 
for a business man whose thoughts were very intent 
upon his own affairs. 

Half an hour after Carlin had begun his watch he 
saw the door of the print-shop open, and out darted 
the supposed descendant of the Stuarts. The young 
man turned down the side street. In an instant the 
27 


28 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


secret agent was upon his track. After proceeding 
a little more than a block the clerk hurried down 
into a basement barber-shop. 

A few moments later, as Carlin chanced to pass 
the \\dndow of the barber-shop he glanced down into 
the place. Seated in the barber’s chair, with his 
countenance somewhat obscured by lather, could be 
seen the clerk from the print-shop. He was gazing 
fixedly into the mirror before him. And there was a 
suggestion of pleasure about the look in the young 
man’s face; but the pleasure evidently did not have 
its source in self-admiration. It was more than 
likely that he was lost in a happy day-dream. 

‘‘ He has only stolen out for a shave,” thought 
Carlin. He will go back to the shop.” 

The secret agent returned to the opposite side of 
Broadway and resumed his promenade. Presently 
the clerk was seen walking rapidly up the side street, 
and a moment later he entered the shop in company 
with several customers. At length the customers 
emerged from the place. Scarcely had they reached 
the sidewalk when the door of the shop again opened 
and out darted the supposed Stuart. This time he 
made his way across the great thoroughfare. He 
was all unconscious of the pair of keen eyes which 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


29 


were covertly fixed upon himself. The young man 
did not turn up the thoroughfare, as Carlin had sup- 
posed that he would do, but dived down into a base- 
ment, one-half of which was occupied as a flower- 
shop. In a few moments he made his appearance 
with a bouquet of flowers carefully wrapped up in 
soft paper. Pausing at the edge of the sidewalk he 
unfastened the paper in order to take a peep at the 
flowers. Then as he made his way back across the 
street he handled the flowers in a manner which sug- 
gested that he feared these might be run over. But 
at the same time the possibility of he himself meet- 
ing with an accident did not seem to have occurred 
to him. 

After having borne his precious flowers in safety 
through the dangers of a Broadway crossing the 
young man entered the print-shop. He was met 
just inside the door by a well-dressed little old man 
with gold-rimmed spectacles, who gave him a very 
angry look and appeared to administer to him a 
severe reprimand. 

The young Prince is catching it from his boss,^’ 
thought the secret agent. 

The latter then made his way across the street, 
and while pretending to gaze into the show window 


30 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


managed to keep his eye upon the little old man 
and the clerk. The young man did not appear dis- 
posed to take his employer’s criticisms in good part. 
In fact, his replies seemed to be of a highly haughty 
character. This evidently had wrought the angry 
proprietor up to a white heat of rage, and he pro- 
ceeded to address to his rebellious clerk a few 
solemn words, which Carlin imagined to be a dis- 
charge. To these words the supposed descendant of 
the Stuarts listened with an expression of contempt. 
Proprietor and clerk then mad£ their way in the di- 
rection of the counting-room. 

‘‘ He’s going to pay him of¥,” thought the agent. 

Well, I’m glad the young fellow showed fight. 
The fact that he’s game to the core is another thing 
that goes to convince me that my search has resulted 
in the discovery of at least a Prince of the blood. 
I think that when he comes out of the shop he will 
be in the right humor for me to sound.” 

The agent remained outside the shop until the 
young man made his appearance, bearing carefully 
in his right hand the bouquet which had probably 
been the innocent means of procuring his discharge. 
The young man now seemed to display toward the 
flowers an amount of tenderness that was intended 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


31 


to make amends for the carelessness with which he 
had handled them during the stormy scene with his 
late employer. He now turned his steps up Broad- 
way. Evidently he intended to walk off a little of 
the surplus warmth which recent events had engen- 
dered in his inflammable breast. He had proceeded 
for little more than a block when he was overtaken 
by Carlin, who looked into his face in a very respect- 
ful yet sympathetic manner, and said : 

‘‘ Sir, you have been treated very shabbily by that 
vulgar employer of yours.’’ 

The young man looked at his companion in sur- 
prise and then replied, somewhat coldly: 

Were you in the shop when the — the fellow 
treated me so impudently? ” 

“ I was standing outside and saw the whole affair, 
although, of course, I was obliged to guess what was 
being said. But I sympathized with you very 
strongly, Mr. Lamont.” 

The young man looked at the agent in a puzzled 
manner and said : 

How do you know that my name is Lamont — 
I mean that my name is Martel? or at least we go by 
that name.” 

Yet, sir, isn’t Lamont your real name? ” 


32 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


'' It may be; but as I don't know you we'll not 
discuss the matter." 

‘‘ But, sir, I might know your family." 

‘‘ That is possible, although for certain family rea- 
sons we know very few people." 

And I may be one of the persons who knew your 
father, Henry Lamont, or Martel, if you prefer." 
The young man was evidently surprised. Your 
father," continued Carlin, came to New York in 
1838." 

‘‘No;" replied the young man; “Henry La- 
mont, as you call him, was my grandfather." 

“ I mean, of course, he was your grandfather. He 
came over on the ship Orkney." 

“ You are right; and my elder brother was named 
after him." 

“To be sure he was; and you were named 
after " 

“ My mother's brother Thomas." 

“ I thought you were named after your father." 

“ Oh, no; but my little brother Alfred, who died, 
was named after father." 

“ To be sure. There were no other children, I be- 
lieve?" 

“ None." 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


33 


‘‘ You are living with your father now, I be- 
lieve? 

'' Why do you ask? 

Because I want to see your father.” 

The young man looked suspiciously at his ques- 
tioner and said: 

'' If my father wishes to see you he will let you 
know where we live. As I said, there are family rea- 
sons why we have very few acquaintances at pres- 
ent. Excuse me, sir, if I decline to talk with you any 
further.” 

Having said this, young Martel nodded coldly to 
Carlin and increased his pace. The secret agent 
made no attempt to overtake his late companion, 
but complacently allowed himself to drop behind. 

‘‘ I have got out of him everything I want to 
know, except the address of his father,” thought 
Carlin, '' and that will be an easy matter for me to 
find out.” 

Martel proceeded up Broadway, holding his 
flowers carefully aloft. He was followed at some 
little distance by Carlin. At length the young man 
paused in front of Daly's Theatre and gazed with an 
appearance of much interest at the bill-board. Then 
he cast an admiring glance into the brilliantly 
3 


34 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


lighted lobby. Carlin also paused, lest he should at- 
tract Martel’s attention by coming up with him. 
The secret agent now saw the young man carefully 
transfer the flowers from his right to his left hand. 
Then his right hand sought one of his pockets, from 
which he drew forth two theatre tickets. These he 
scrutinized carefully, as if to make sure as to their 
date. 

‘‘ Humph,” thought Carlin, the Prince is going 
to Daly’s to-night, and he’s going to take with him 
the lady for whom he bought the flowers that have 
lost him his situation.” 

Having satisfied himself in regard to the tickets 
Martel resumed his progress uptown. At Thirty- 
eighth Street he turned out of Broadway and pro- 
ceeded westward several blocks. Presently he 
stopped at a neat-looking house which had evidently 
been let in apartments. He did not open the door 
with a latch-key, but rang one of the row of bells 
which could be seen inside the porch. An instant 
later the door was opened for him. 

That isn’t his home,” thought Carlin, who from 
a safe distance up the block had seen Martel enter 
the house. '' There’s where the girl lives.” 

Half an hour elapsed without Martel leaving the 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


35 


house. Carlin now looked at his watch and said to 
himself, “The Prince is dining with her. They 
won’t come out until theatre time. I might as well 
take a bite myself and send a little cipher letter to 
Mr. Fitzpatrick.” 

A few moments before eight o’clock Carlin was 
on Broadway, near Thirty-fourth Street. In his 
hand was a letter which he intended to leave later on 
at a District Messenger office for delivery. Just 
then there chanced to come along a messenger in 
the person of Peter, who had several times before 
delivered letters for him. Scarcely had Carlin given 
the letter to the youth when Martel came along 
clinging to the arm of a very pretty young woman. 
The young man was talking in a low voice to her 
while he gazed intently into her face ; and in fact he 
was so deeply engrossed with her that the piloting 
of the pair fell entirely upon her; and were it not 
that she performed this work with much skill, Mar- 
tel would certainly have come into numerous colli- 
sions with passers-by. 

Carlin presently saw the pair enter Daly’s Thea- 
tre. The agent himself purchased a gallery ticket 
and found a very good place in the front row of the 


36 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


cheap seats. In the balcony below him he saw 
Martel and the pretty young woman. During the 
performance the girl watched the stage intently and 
seemed unconscious of the presence of her compan- 
ion. Martel, upon the other hand, gazed contin- 
uously and intently upon the young woman and 
seemed entirely oblivious of what was going on 
upon the stage. 

'' Tm sorry for the girl,’’ thought Carlin, for if 
our plans go right there will have to be a separation 
between her and the Prince. She seems to be a 
good enough sort of a young woman, though I 
can’t help thinking she’s very vain.” 

Carlin did not pay much attention to the other 
occupants of the gallery. Two rough but well- 
dressed fellows, apparently Englishmen, whose re- 
semblance to each other indicated that they were 
brothers, and who sat a few rows behind the secret 
agent, caught his eye once ; but he took no further 
notice of the pair. When the curtain seemed about 
to drop upon the last act of the play Carlin arose and 
made his way quickly down the gallery stairs. He 
waited outside of the theatre until he observed 
young Martel and his pretty companion among the 
throng that was emerging from the lobby. The 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


37 


secret agent was not aware that he himself was 
being in turn watched by the two rough-appear- 
ing fellows who had sat near him during the per- 
formance; nor was he aware that among the cabs 
that were waiting outside in the street was one 
whose driver had had an understanding with the 
pair. 

Martel, accompanied by the young woman, made 
his way to a neighboring restaurant, where he in- 
dulged her in a few light dainties which she disposed 
of with evident relish. He eat scarcely anything 
himself, but he seemed to take much pleasure in 
watching her. The supper having been finished, the 
pair proceeded quite leisurely to the house in West 
Thirty-eighth Street to which the young man had 
been shadowed early in the evening by Carlin. Mar- 
tel went inside the porch in order to take leave of his 
sweetheart. She evidently seemed to realize that he 
was entitled to some little recognition for the treat 
which he had that evening afforded her, and pos- 
sibly for that reason, but at any rate without rnaking 
much of a protest, she allowed him to imprint upon 
her pretty cheek an innocent but a warm kiss. He 
would have repeated this indulgence had not the 
fair one put down her little foot with an emphasis 


38 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


which had the effect of warning him that it would 
be advisable for him in this respect to exercise ex- 
treme moderation. 

Young Martel appeared to be in high spirits as 
he reached Broadway. Up that thoroughfare he 
walked briskly, his thoughts evidently keeping time 
to his quick movements. Presently he reached Fif- 
ty-ninth Street, where he paused and glanced over 
at the Central Park entrance. After a moment of 
hesitation he crossed the street and turned into a 
dimly lighted but enchanting region. Here he con- 
tinued his brisk walk until he had arrived at a point 
where the promenade wound in close to the park 
roadway. Pausing, he seated himself upon a bench, 
and while resting he seemed to be lost in pleasing 
reflections. Presently the young man arose and re- 
sumed his walk. At some distance behind him came 
Carlin, who had paused while he was resting. When 
the secret agent had arrived at the point where the 
promenade and the roadway ran close together he 
suddenly uttered a slight exclamation and dropped 
heavily to the pavement. A moment later the two 
rough-looking fellows who had sat behind him in 
the theatre were bending over his prostrate and un- 
conscious form. Just then a cab was heard driving 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


39 


rapidly toward the scene; but its approach did not 
seem to alarm the pair. 

‘‘ Your slung-shot was 'most as good as a bullet, 
Joe," whispered the taller of the pair. 

I generally hit the bull's eye, Bill," replied the 
other. 

An instant later the cab drew up in the roadway 
opposite the promenade. The unconscious Carlin 
was lifted from the pavement and placed in the cab, 
into which his two captors then sprang. The driver 
now turned his vehicle around and drove in the di- 
rection of the nearest exit from the park. 


CHAPTER IV. 


THE SMUGGLERS' HOME. 

The cab containing the secret agent and his two 
captors emerged from the park without the nature 
of its present use being suspected by either of the 
two officers who then stood near the exit. Soon 
afterward Carlin began to show signs of returning 
consciousness. The fellow who had been addressed 
as Joe now took from his pocket a small bottle, the 
contents of which he applied to a handkerchief. 
The latter was quickly pressed to the nostrils of Car- 
lin, who again relapsed into unconsciousness. 

Jack Harriman ought to pay us well for this 
job,'' said Joe to his companion, 'cause he got a 
straight tip from 'ome that this chap was working 
up some new danger that was like to strike England 
heavy." 

At length the cab drew up in a street between two 
blocks of warehouses. The kidnappers alighted and 
pulled out of the vehicle the unconscious Carlin. 
Joe whispered to the driver: 

40 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


41 


‘‘ You know how to hold your tongue/’ 

That I do,” was the reply. 

The cab now rattled toward the bright, bustling 
city streets, while the kidnappers lugged their man 
in the opposite direction. At the end of the ware- 
houses they came upon a small tract of open ground, 
from beyond which could be heard the ripple of the 
North River. 

In the midst of the open ground stood an old, 
tumble-down building. To this place Carlin was 
conducted. Joe produced a key with which he un- 
locked a heavy door, which had evidently been set 
recently in the rickety porch. The prisoner was 
conveyed into a large room which contained a table, 
two cots, and several chairs. Bill lit a tallow candle, 
and Carlin was carried down a staircase that led into 
a close, ill-smelling basement. Directly under the 
large room was a small dark apartment with thick 
plank walls and a stout door. Joe unlocked this 
door, and the prisoner was dragged into what 
proved in reality to be a cell provided with little fur- 
niture except a cot. Upon this the unconscious man 
was placed. The door was then locked and the kid- 
nappers returned to the large room on the main 
floor. 


42 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


Their resemblance to each other seemed to extend 
to their manners and expressions as well. 

‘‘ I suppose rd better keep watch over the place? 
said Bill 

“Yes/' replied Joe; “you be the jailer while I 
take the news to Jack Harriman." 

Bill went with his comrade to the door, after 
which he turned the key in the lock and returned to 
the living-room. 

“ This is blooming risky business/' he thought, 
as he stretched himself out upon one of the cots. 

The risk of the enterprise did not, however, pre- 
vent Bill from dropping off into a sound sleep. It 
was daybreak when he awoke. 

“ Joe can't have found Jack Harriman," thought 
Bill, “ or he'd have been back long ago." 

Bill then yawned and after stretching himself 
lazily for a moment he suddenly sprang nimbly to 
his feet. Evidently it had flashed through his mind 
that there were some duties attached to the position 
of jailer. Picking up the candle, which had burned 
very low while he had slumbered, he descended to 
the basement. At the door of the cell in which Car- 
lin had been locked Bill listened carefully. All was 
still. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


43 


He hain't come to yet,” thought the jailer, who 
was about to return to the upper floor when he heard 
Carlin moving softly about inside the cell. Bill lis- 
tened for a moment and then muttered : '' He’s 
a-groping ’round for the door-knob, and I’m afeard 
he don’t find no door-knob ’andy. Well, let him 
grope. He’s safe enough so long as he does nothink 
more ’armful than grope.” 

Then indulging in a chuckle the fellow returned 
to the living-room. The only window in this room 
was protected, after a fashion, by a pair of rickety 
shutters, in which the absence here and there of a 
slat afforded excellent means for observing what 
was going on without. Glancing through one of 
these peep-holes. Bill saw two figures emerge from 
the street at the end of the warehouses. Looking 
closely he recognized one of these as his comrade 
Joe and the other as the trusted English secret 
agent. Jack Harriman. Bill went to the door, which 
he unlocked and held open in order to welcome the 
pair who were approaching. 

Jack Harriman, as Joe’s companion proved to be, 
was a flat-nosed individual with something of the 
bulldog about his mouth and in his eyes. He 
nodded to Bill by way of recognition. Joe led the 
way to the living-room. 


44 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Are you very sure that he is the man we want? ” 
asked Harriman. 

‘'There can be no doubt about it! I told you 
that mor’n once! ’’ replied Joe, testily. 

“ I don’t doubt but what you think you’re right,” 
said Harriman, in a conciliatory manner, “ but still 
you might be wrong.” 

“ S’pose you look at him.” 

“ That’s just what I want to do.” 

Bill had produced a fresh tallow candle, which he 
lighted from the almost exhausted dip. The trio 
then descended into the basement. 

“ We might as well hide our faces,” whispered 
Harriman. 

The British secret agent now produced a hand- 
kerchief, which he tied over the lower portion of his 
face, fastening the ends behind his ears. Then 
drawing his hat down over his forehead he was com- 
pletely masked. The other two used the same sim- 
ple method of masking themselves. 

When they came to the door of the cell Joe 
quickly unlocked it and threw it open. Bill then 
held up the candle. Carlin, who had been seated 
upon the cot, sprang to his feet. Dim as was the 
light from the tallow candle it for the moment dazed 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


45 


the prisoner. While he was gazing half-blindly 
toward the light Harriman took a good look 
at him. 

'' Where am 1? demanded Carlin. 

The jailers made no answer. The prisoner sud- 
denly sprang toward the door. This movement was 
quickly met by his captors, who slammed the door 
against him, and the key was instantly turned in the 
lock. Carlin vainly strove to open the door, while 
the trio calmly returned to the living-room. 

Are you satisfied now? '' demanded Joe. 

‘‘Yes,’' replied Harriman; “you have trapped 
the very man we want — and it was a very clever job ! 
I am glad you had the nerve to try it. By the way, 
it’s lucky you had a cage to put him in.” The last 
words were said in a somewhat significant tone. 

“Yes; you see that now and then we turn an hon- 
est penny by handling goods what they ain’t got no 
right to put a duty on,” explained Joe. 

“ Of course that’s none of my business,” put in the 
secret agent. 

“ And naturally we likes a safe place to keep the 
goods in; and then there was a lad that did some 
work for us that we found was going to give the snap 
away; so one night we fixes up the coop down be- 


46 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


low, and when he come in the morning to have a talk 
with us before giving us away, why we caged him 
and we kep’ him there until he got it through his 
’ead that he ’adn’t been acting ’andsome by us/’ 

‘‘ It’s enough for me to know that you possess a 
coop.” 

‘'Well, Mr. Harriman, now that you know that 
we have got a coop, and you are satisfied that the 
man we’ve got in it is the one you was looking for, 
will you let us know what you want done with him? ” 

" Now if you could manage to detain him for the 
present perhaps it would be well. And if you should 
get in any trouble owing to your keeping caged an 
animal that might prove dangerous to England, 
why I’ll stand by you the best I know how.” 

" Now, Mr. Harriman, you talk the stuff what I 
like to hear.” 

" And, Joe, I’ll see to it that when the time comes 
for you to let your prisoner out you will have a 
hundred pounds to divide between you.” 

" A ’undred pounds, eh? Well, that won’t be so 
bad,” said Joe. 

" I don’t think, Joe, that you will have to keep him 
here longer than a month.” 

“ Well, Mr. Harriman, we’ll try and make him 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


47 


comfortable for that long. Was it some dynamite 
lioutrage he was ’atching hup? ’’ 

I don’t think it was anything in the dynamite 
line,” replied Harriman. “ I was informed that he 
was working up some new scheme which would 
prove all the more dangerous because it would not 
be known from what quarter the attack would come. 
By the way, you boys ought to have something on 
account. I haven’t got any money with me now, but 
I’ll bring you ten per cent, of your hundred pounds 
some time this afternoon.” 

Having given the pair this assurance, Harriman 
took his departure. Bill now brought out from a 
cupboard some material for a cold breakfast. After 
they had disposed of this Joe said that he would re- 
main at home and look after the wants of their guest 
for that day. Presently Bill went out in order to at- 
tend to some matters connected with the smuggling 
industry, while Joe stretched himself out upon one 
of the cots, and like a trusty watch-dog he proceeded 
to catch naps, as it were, with one eye open. 


CHAPTER V. 


A MIGHTY ARM. 

It was late in the afternoon when Bill, having 
completed the business which had taken him out 
that day, directed his steps homeward. Upon ar- 
riving at the building of which he was a tenant he 
gave three low raps upon the door. This signal had 
the desired effect, and an instant later Joe, with 
sleepy eyes, was unlocking the door. 

‘‘ Is everything all right? ’’ asked Bill. 

‘‘ I believe so,” was the reply. ‘‘ Anyhow, Til 
look again.” 

Joe made his way down into the basement and lis- 
tened near the door of Carlin’s cage until he had 
satisfied himself that it still had an occupant. When 
he had returned to the upper floor Bill, who had 
been glancing through the shutters, announced that 
Harriman was approaching. The British secret 
agent was warmly welcomed by his two employees, 
between whom he divided ten bills of the five-dollar 
denomination. 


48 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


49 


How does your new lodger like the fare you 
give him? asked Harriman. 

Joe looked blankly toward his comrade, who 
shook his head. Then something faintly suggestive 
of a blush appeared in the rough countenance of 
Joe as he admitted: 

I guess he hain’t had nothing so far.’’ 

Now, Joe, that won’t do,” protested Harriman 
in a serious tone. We won’t go to the length of 
putting this man out of the way, though we are sat- 
isfied that he is dangerous. But even if it were good 
policy to take such measures we would get rid of 
him by some more humane way than by starving 
him to death.” 

Oh, he ain’t going to be starved, Mr. Harriman, 
It was just a little slip of my memory. He’s going 
to get hall he can eat ; and take my word for it he is 
going to leave ’ere ten pounds ’eavier than he come 
to us.” 

“ If you let him carry away anything like the 
weight he brought here it will be enough,” said Har- 
riman, who a moment later took leave of Joe and 
Bill. 

No sooner had their superior left the house than 
the two smugglers agreed to at once play a game of 
4 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


50 

cards in order to decide which of the two should 
lay out a portion of his recently acquired money in 
a quantity of liquid refreshments. In this game Joe 
won through a clever coup which some persons, 
brighter than Bill, would have denounced as an act 
of cheating. After bestowing a few good-natured 
reflections upon his own luck at cards, Bill prepared 
to go out for the liquids. 

'' But while Tm getting something for us to 
drink,’’ he said to Joe, just you give that starving 
chap a little something to eat.” 

All right,” replied Joe, “ while you’re gone I’ll 
throw a few eatables together and rush ’em down to 
him.” 

A few moments later Joe crept up to the door of 
Carlin’s cell, and quickly unlocking this he placed 
inside the breakfast that had long since been due 
there. Then as quickly relocking the door, he made 
his way up the stairs. His heart was now warmed 
by the pleasing consciousness of the fact that he had 
performed a good action. 

‘‘ Why,” he muttered, blow me if I hain’t a reg- 
ular good Sam-maritan ! ” 

A few moments later Bill returned with a basket 
filled with bottles of liquid of various degrees of 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


51 


strength. The pair at once began a combined at- 
tack upon the stuff, with the result of quickly rais- 
ing their personal spirits to a high pitch. With a 
glow, borrowed from one of the bottles, in his ruddy 
countenance Bill gave expression to a generous 
thought which had just entered his mind, possibly 
through the same medium of the bottle: 

I say, Joe,’’ he exclaimed, in a high whisper, 
‘‘ let’s take a bottle down to the poor chap we’ve got 
locked up.” 

Joe frowned as he replied: 

'' Look at ’ere. Bill, don’t you go to getting sen- 
timental ! ” 

After the pair had reached a much more advanced 
stage of drunkenness Joe proposed that they should 
sally forth, in order to, as he expressed it, ‘‘ do the 
town.” This proposition Bill readily accepted and 
they prepared to take their departure. Before leav- 
ing the house Joe lighted a fresh cigar, carelessly 
throwing the rejected stub into a corner of the liv- 
ing-room. He had imagined that this stub had be- 
come extinguished; but in it there was still some 
life, that slowly but surely began to communicate 
itself to a quantity of rubbish which lay in that 
corner of the untidy room. The two convivial jail- 


52 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


crs had locked their door and sallied forth without 
realizing that they had left a spark smouldering 
dangerously behind them. 

In the meantime Terance Carlin had become 
aware of the fact that his breakfast was before him. 
Half-sick as he was from the effects of the stunning 
blow and the subsequent close confinement which 
he had undergone, he proceeded mechanically, as it 
were, to fortify himself with the coarse food that 
had been given him. As he eat he ruminated upon 
his unfortunate position. 

To think that those fellows — be they British 
secret agents or not,’’ he thought, should get hold 
of me just as I had found the right scent of the 
Prince! Why didn’t I write Fitzpatrick more about 
the important facts, which I may never live to com- 
municate to him? ” 

At length he dropped into an uneasy sleep, from 
which he finally awoke with a feeling of strong dis- 
comfort. 

It is hard to sleep well in a small apartment with- 
out ventilation,” he thought. 

Then he sprang to his feet. He had suddenly be- 
come aware of the presence of smoke in the cell. 
He listened. There was a crackling sound which 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


53 


seemed to come from the room above. The crack- 
ling sound grew louder, and more smoke made its 
way into the cell. Then Carlin realized the fact that 
the building was on fire. The cigar-stub which Joe 
had carelessly thrown into the corner had kindled 
the flames that were spreading so swiftly. 

The secret agent was a brave man, and the knowl- 
edge of his position did not prevent him from mak- 
ing what was likely to prove a final struggle for his 
life. He cried out lustily for help, and then threw 
himself against the door. But this barrier with- 
stood the blow. Three times he repeated his des- 
perate attempt to batter down the door. Still it 
stood firm. 

The smoke now poured into the room in a thick 
volume, while the noise of the flames had grown 
into a roar. There seemed no chance for escape. 
Carlin gave himself up for lost. But his regrets were 
not alone for himself. A feeling of sorrow for the 
cause, which might suffer through his death, en- 
tered his mind. But it was now with great difficulty 
that he was able to breathe. The smoke was becom- 
ing so dense that he could hardly expect to avert 
suffocation for longer than a few moments. Then 
it was that he made one last desperate effort in his 


54 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


own behalf. This effort did not consist of another 
dash against the door, which had been so firmly set 
in its place. What he did was to draw in the little 
breath which he could extract from out of the suffo- 
cating vapor and to utter a despairing cry for help. 
Compared with his previous cries the one which he 
now uttered was feeble. But to his great joy what 
had seemed likely to prove his final utterance met 
with an answering cry, and from close at hand. 

Where are you? Where are you? ’’ was the cry. 

Carlin again drew in what little breath he could 
command, and he called out : 

‘‘Here! Here!’’ 

This effort proved too much for him, and he now 
sank exhausted upon the floor. 

There was an outside entrance to the basement of 
the old building. A pair of rickety doors, not yet 
reached by the flames, guarded this entrance; and 
these doors had been fastened upon the inside by a 
heavy iron bar. Near this entrance was an old win- 
dow blackened by dirt and further obscured by great 
festoons of cobwebs. A pane in the grimy window 
had been dashed in by the hand of a man who was 
looking through the aperture he had made when 
Carlin uttered his last desperate appeal for help. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


55 


Upon receiving the answering cry the man sprang 
to his feet. His figure was tall and commanding. 
His motion was lithe, and there was something 
about it suggestive of great strength. He sprang to 
the old basement doors and pressed against these. 
Their manner of resistance indicated to him that 
they were fastened inside by a heavy bar, but that 
they were rotten. He felt along the. edges of the 
doors until he found a crevice into which he was 
able to thrust his hand. Then with a quick move- 
ment he wrenched off a large piece of board. Then 
he tore off another piece of plank. The iron bar was 
now loosened and fell to the ground. Thrusting 
'aside the wreck of the doors he sprang into the base- 
ment, which was illuminated by tongues of fire that 
here and there thrust themselves through the ceil- 
ing. The man glanced around the basement and his 
eye caught the door of the cell. 

The cry came from there! ’’ he thought. 

Then he tried the door. The lock was a strong 
one. He remembered the iron bar by which the 
basement door had been fastened. In an instant he 
had secured the bar and with it was knocking a 
breach in the door. The breach was quickly com- 
pleted and in this the bar was inserted. By a power- 


56 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


ful wrench the lock was then torn from its fastenings 
and the door was thrown open. 

In another instant the unconscious Carlin was in 
the arms of the man who had broken into his prison, 
and was being rapidly carried toward the upper air. 
Scarcely had the rescuer left the cell when the latter 
was completely enveloped in a sheet of flame that 
had swept down from above, and now roared with 
increased fury, as if to express its anger at having 
been at the last moment robbed of its prey. 

The fresh air speedily revived the rescued man, 
who found himself lying upon the ground at a safe 
distance from the burning building. Owing to the 
fact that the place was outside of the habitable por- 
tion of the town, the only spectators of the fire were 
a few watchmen from the neighboring warehouses. 
But a distant rattle and jangle announced the ap- 
proach of a fire-engine and a hose-cart. Carlin now 
staggered to his feet. An idea which he believed 
would prove of help to him in his plans had already 
entered his revived brain. He looked up at his res- 
cuer, who was gazing abstractedly at the fire, and 
said : 

I can’t express my gratitude to you, sir, for res- 
cuing me: so I won’t attempt it; but I shall beg of 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


57 


you to add one more obligation to my debt to your- 
self/’ 

‘‘What further can I do for you?” asked the 
other. 

“ You can inform the firemen and the police of- 
ficers when they come up that you believe someone 
has been lost in the building.” 

“ Was there any one else in the place? ” 

“No, sir; but ” 

“ You want me to say what is not true? ” 

“ It may serve a good purpose: it may throw off 
my trail certain people who, I believe, are seeking 
my life! ” 

“ Then you can rely on me ! ” was the reply. 


CHAPTER VL 


CARLIN’S BENEFACTOR. 

When an engine, closely followed by a hose-cart, 
had arrived at the scene of the fire, a tall man ap- 
proached the foreman of the fire company and told 
him that someone had probably perished in the 
flames. 

‘‘ Are you sure of it? ’’ asked the foreman. 

I was in the neighborhood when the fire broke 
out, and I went close to the building, on the side 
where the flames are now shooting out of the base- 
ment entrance. I heard a voice cry for help, and the 
cry was repeated.’’ 

The foreman shrugged his shoulders and replied : 

‘‘ Then the unfortunate person is lost. It would 
be impossible to enter the place now. The building 
has almost been burned to the ground already.” 

As the foreman uttered the latter words there was 
a crash among the burning timbers. The frame of 
the building had tumbled in. Several police officers 
58 


A PRINCE. OF THE BLOOD. 


59 


now came up and the foreman repeated to them 
what he had been told by the tall man. One of the 
officers made notes of this, and he desired to ques- 
tion the informant, but to his surprise he found that 
the man had disappeared. 

After leaving the scene of the fire, the stranger, 
who had given the misleading statement to the fore- 
man, made his way quickly in the direction of a cer- 
tain unfrequented street corner, at which he had 
agreed to meet Carlin. Upon reaching this point 
he found waiting for him the secret agent. 

I made the statement which you deemed neces- 
sary to your safety,’’ he said to Carlin, and it 
seemed to be believed by the foreman of the fire 
company, who then repeated it to one of the police 
officers.” 

You have done me another very great service, 
sir; and as I said before, I wish that I could ex- 
press ” 

‘‘ By the way,” interrupted the other, '' how came 
you in that little room, or rather cell? ” 

I was locked in there by the men who probably 
set fire to the building.” 

‘‘ But you are not sure that they set fire to the 
place? ” 


6o 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


I am not positive, but appearances ’’ 

Let us hope that the fire started by accident. 
But it is probable that you will succeed in making 
your enemies believe that you have perished — that 

is, unless they should run across you.’’ 

I do not fear that, sir.” 

Why don’t you go to the police and tell them 
the truth?” 

“ No police force in the world could protect me 
from the enemies that I would then have! It is a 
long story, sir, which I may some day be at liberty 
to tell you.” 

The tall man knit his brow, and after a moment 
of reflection, he said : 

It seems strange that in a community like this, 
where there is maintained such extensive and ap- 
parently powerful machinery for repressing wrong- 
doing, a person could not escape being persecuted 
in this manner. But we know perfectly well that 
there have been such instances. And your case 
seems to be another of these. If there is anything 
further that I can do for you let me ask you to name 

it. ” 

It might seem to be asking too much of you, 
sir,” said the secret agent, but under the circum- 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


6i 


stances it would not be wise for me to show myself 
at the lodgings I have occupied of late at No. — 
East th Street. But I stand in need of a cer- 

tain small box which I left there. The box contains 
something which would prove of great service to 
me. 

‘‘ And you wish to send some person whom you 
can depend upon, to fetch the box for you? 

“ Yes, sir. But it is now very late ” 

Here a neighboring church clock struck four. 

‘‘ The lateness of the hour would certainly prove 
no obstacle to my getting the box for you?’’ said 
Carlin’s benefactor. 

“ Then you are willing to undertake this matter 
for me? ” asked Carlin. 

I will cheerfully undertake to get the box and 
take it to you — that is, if you will tell me where I am 
to deliver it.” 

Carlin mentioned a certain small hotel in one of 
the least frequented of the upper portions of the 
town, where he would be found under the assumed 
name of Charles Peters of Boston. The secret agent 
then gave his volunteer messenger directions for 
finding his particular room and for securing the box 
of which he stood in need. 


62 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


‘‘ It isn’t likely that you will meet with any diffi- 
culty in getting into my lodgings,” said Carlin, as he 
handed the other his latch-key. 

Whether it is difficult or not,” was the reply, '' I 
will enter your lodgings and secure the box you de- 
sire!” 

Having said this in a decided tone the tall man left 
Carlin and walked rapidly in the direction of the 
nearest station of the elevated railway. Carlin made 
his way leisurely by a circuitous route to the hotel 
at which he expected to meet his new acquaintance. 
Upon reaching the hotel he discovered no one in the 
office with the exception of a dozing clerk and a 
slumbering office-boy. Both of these officials were 
partially aroused by his entrance. The clerk 
watched the guest sleepily while the latter wrote in 
the register, ‘‘ Charles Peters, Boston.” The hall- 
boy was then directed to show Mr. Peters to No. 55. 
The guest remarked that he was expecting a caller 
who might arrive at any moment, and he paid for 
his lodging in advance. 

Upon taking possession of the room assigned him 
Carlin threw himself upon the bed, which impressed 
him as being superior to the couch that he had oc- 
cupied earlier in the night. He congratulated him- 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


63 


self upon the fact that both the clerk and the hall- 
boy had been too sleepy to have observed him at all 
closely. 

‘‘ When I leave this room in my disguise,” he 
thought, it will be as an entirely new person. 
Terance Carlin has gone up in smoke; but the work 
of again picking up the trail of the Stuart Princes 
will be carried on by Charles Peters.” 

Carlin waited patiently for the coming of his tall 
benefactor. The latter, however, did not make 
his appearance at the time scheduled for this by 
the secret agent. Carlin began to grow uneasy. 
When the day broke he arose and stationed himself 
at the window from which the approaches to the 
hotel could be commanded. Soon after he had 
taken up this position he had the satisfaction of see- 
ing a tall figure walking rapidly toward the hotel. 
There was no mistaking this man for any one but 
the hero who had saved his life. 

A moment later Carlin received his desired box 
from the hands of his benefactor, of whose face he 
now for the first time obtained a good view. It was 
a dark, manly face. The features were regular and 
handsome. The eyes were deep-set, but large and 
penetrating. He wore a close-clipped mustache, but 


64 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


his chin was shaven and in shape was indicative of 
firmness. There was, however, a look about him 
which suggested that he was a man who would be 
swayed by a generous impulse. 

I told you that I would be sure to secure this for 
you,'’ he said as he handed the box to Carlin, ‘‘ but I 
did not say that I would perform the service without 
any delay." 

I assure you, sir, that the delay was of no conse- 
quence." 

On my way here I ran upon a poor fellow who 
had a pitiful tale which seemed true, and in order to 
be of some little service to his family, who seem 
worthy people, I took the liberty of delaying the 
mission upon which you had sent me." 

You are a genuine knight-errant, sir. And now 
I am very anxious to learn the name of my noble 
benefactor." 

A look of annoyance stole into the face of the 
man, and after a moment of hesitation he said: 

Really, sir, I should prefer not to tell my name 
to you." 

You are too modest, sir." 

‘‘ It is not from motives of modesty that I wish 
to withhold my name. My motives are those of pol- 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 65 

icy. For certain family reasons we know very few 
people.’’ 

Carlin started. He had just heard repeated the 
very words which Thomas Martel had used when 
he had refused to further discuss his family with 
him. Could this be the father of Thomas, and the 
rightful heir of the house of Stuart? Carlin eagerly 
scanned the face before him in the hope of observ- 
ing some point of resemblance between it and the 
countenance of Thorrias Martel ; but no such resem- 
blance could be discerned by the secret agent. 

“ But for the reasons I have mentioned I would 
give you my name,” said Carlin’s benefactor. 

As he heard these words the secret agent gave 
another start. He had discovered no outward re- 
semblance to Thomas Martel in the person who 
now stood before him; but the secret agent had 
suddenly been impressed with the fact that in the 
voices of the two men there was a strong resem- 
blance. 

Shall I not — have the pleasure of seeing you 
again, sir? ” 

Carlin had asked this question simply in order to 
draw forth another specimen of his benefactor’s 
voice. 


5 


66 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


'' I doubt if it will be necessary for us to meet 
again/’ was the reply. 

Carlin weighed the tones carefully and compared 
them with the voice of Thomas Martel, as he re- 
membered it. 

I am glad that I have been of service to you,” 
continued the other. And I will now take leave of 
you.” 

Having said this he bowed in a dignified manner 
and moved toward the door. 

'' But, sir,” exclaimed Carlin, eagerly, will you 
not give me your hand? ” 

The man paused, and then with a gracious smile 
extended his right hand toward the secret agent. 
The latter took the proffered hand in his own and in 
a manner suggestive of reverence. 

Terance Carlin fully believed that he stood in the 
presence of the rightful heir of the house of Stuart. 
And he bowed low as the man again started to leave 
the room. In the eyes of Carlin the being to whom 
he had thus paid homage had during the last few 
moments been exalted and glorified. There now 
seemed to be in his manner and his walk something 
regal. Carlin made no attempt to detain him. The 
instant the door was closed the secret agent opened 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


67 


the box which had been brought to him, and pulling 
out materials for a disguise he proceeded to adjust 
this to himself. He worked with great rapidity. 
While putting on a pair of false whiskers he drew 
near the window in order to note in which direction 
the supposed Prince of the house of Stuart should 
depart. He had scarcely taken up this post of ob- 
servation when he saw a tall, commanding figure 
walking up the street. 

Carlin completed the assuming of his disguise in 
an even more expeditious manner than he had be- 
guh the work ; and he soon emerged from the hotel 
a far different appearing individual from the person 
who a few hours before had been assigned to Room 
No. 55. He hurried in the direction which his bene- 
factor had taken. Upon reaching the first corner he 
saw the tall figure climbing the steps of a downtown 
elevated railway station. Carlin then hurried down 
the avenue and to the next elevated railway station. 
Upon reaching the platform of this he looked up the 
track and saw the tall figure bending over the news- 
stand at the upper station. 

I will have no trouble in tracing the Prince 
now,” thought Carlin. He will not suspect me in 
my disguise. I am glad I thought of comparing his 


68 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


voice with that of the younger Prince, after I had 
failed to discover any resemblance between the faces 
of the two. And why shouldn’t a son be as likely 
to inherit the voice of the father as he is to inherit 
the facial peculiarities? The mere fact that there is 
no resemblance to each other in their faces goes for 
nothing. And the close resemblance of the younger 
to the picture of Prince Charlie is not surprising: 
for individual characteristics and peculiarities of 
feature as well will come out strongly after lying 
dormant for half a dozen generations.” 

A train was now approaching the upper station 
on the downtown track. As it drew up Carlin saw 
the tall figure enter one of the middle cars. When 
the train made its next stop the disTuised secret 
agent stepped upon the platform of one of the mid- 
dle cars. Half-way up the first of these cars sat the 
tall figure. Opposite the latter Carlin found a seat. 
The supposed Prince did not appear to have ob- 
served the presence of the whiskered individual who 
sat opposite him. 

When the train began to slow up preparatory to 
making its stoppage at one of the stations to the 
westward of Central Park, Carlin observed that the 
supposed Prince had arisen to his feet. The latter 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


69 


was among the passengers to get off at this station. 
Close at his heels came the full-whiskered person 
who had sat opposite to him during the greater por- 
tion of the ride. 

The tall man, after walking two blocks, turned 
into a side street and made his way in the direction 
of the North River. Presently he came upon a 
block of small brick houses of tasteful design. When 
opposite the last of these houses he turned and 
mounted the steps. Pausing at the top of the steps 
he took from his pocket a latch-key. Just as he 
seemed about to insert this in the key-hole of the 
street-door the latter was opened and a young man 
appeared. 

Then it^s you, father? ’’ he said. 

“ Yes, Henry. But you were not so foolish as to 
worry about me, I hope.’' 

I couldn’t help feeling a trifle uneasy, sir. I 
know your habit of playing the knight-errant when- 
ever you take those dismal nocturnal rambles of 
yours.” 

“ But when I can’t sleep a ramble of that sort 
does me good.” 

‘‘ But why take the by-lanes and hedges, sir? ” 
asked the son. 


70 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


The pair now entered the door, which for an in- 
stant remained open; and during that instant a 
short, full-whiskered man happened to pass down 
the sidewalk and in front of the house. It also hap- 
pened that the man glanced into the open doorway; 
and he saw, in addition to the tall personage and his 
son Henry, a young man who bore a striking re- 
semblance to the picture of Prince Charlie that hung 
in the window of a certain print-shop in lower 
Broadway. 


CHAPTER VIL 


THE SUSPICIOUS LETTER. 

There was a gloomy look in the face of Mr. Fitz- 
patrick when he entered his office on the second 
morning after the disappearance of his trusted secret 
agent. The old gentleman unlocked his safe and, 
taking out certain books and papers, he tried to 
work. But he found it impossible to fix his mind 
upon the task that he had undertaken. At length 
he arose with a deep sigh and began to pace his 
office. 

“ Fields will be the best man to take up Carlin’s 
work,” he thought. ‘‘ But Fields is not the man 
Carlin was. Still, there is no one else that I can 
trust. And there is no time to be lost.” And he 
gave something like a groan as he thought of the 
letter which he had received from the Grand Coun- 
cil, reflecting upon his tardiness and urging him to 
renewed efforts. ^Just then the door opened and a 
tall, slender man with small gray eyes and a sharp 
nose made his appearance. 

71 


72 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


'' Well, Fields? ’’ said the old gentleman. 

‘‘ I have been to the Morgue/’ was the reply, '' and 
I examined the body — it is not Carlin’s. The re- 
semblance to him was only in the description we saw 
in the newspapers. No one would mistake the body 
for Carlin’s.” 

‘‘ It might as well be that of Carlin, for there are 
no traces of him. He has possibly been made away 
with by the enemy. Come back to me in an hour’s 
time and I will explain to you some very important 
work that I will put you on.” 

Field’s small eyes twinkled at the mention of the 
word ‘‘ important.” Like every live fellow, no mat- 
ter in what walk of life, he was burning to distin- 
guish himself. He bowed deferentially to his su- 
perior, and withdrew. 

“ I will have just time to catch the English mail,” 
thought Fitzpatrick, ‘‘ and I will write the Grand 
Council a statement.” 

He seated himself at his desk and with a copy of 
the cipher key at his elbow he started upon a letter 
to the leaders of the Stuart enterprise. The old gen- 
tleman had written not more than a dozen words 
when his door opened. He turned and saw a short, 
full-whiskered man whom he did not recognize. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


73 


The visitor advanced toward the desk and in a famil- 
iar voice said: 

Fm glad you don’t know me. It shows that my 
disguise is a good one.” 

These words were scarcely out of the man’s mouth 
before Fitzpatrick had jumped upon his feet and was 
standing before the newcomer, trembling but with 
a look of joy in his face. 

What, Carlin! ” he exclaimed, ‘‘ you are back — 
from the grave? ” 

‘'There’s where I’m from, sir; and I’ve brought 
you glorious news ! ” 

“ Then you really know where Prince Alfred is 
to be found? ” 

“I do!” 

The old gentleman threw his arms round the 
secret agent and tears of joy for the moment dimmed 
his eyes. Then Carlin related his adventures of the 
last forty-eight hours and told of the great result 
which these had led up to. 

“ I fear that it is too late to write to the Grand 
Council by to-day’s English mail,” said Fitzpatrick 
at the close of the narration. 

“ No, it is not. There is more than one man on 
the mail steamer leaving to-day that we can depend 


74 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


on. You can write the letter in time for me to place 
it on the steamship.” 

“ I will send a cipher cable despatch announcing 
the great news and stating that the letter giving par- 
ticulars is already on its way. Just suggest the de- 
spatch.” 

The secret agent thought for a moment, and then 
picking up a writing-pad and a pencil he hastily 
scribbled the following message : 

‘‘ Rejoice with us. The lost has been found. Par- 
ticulars by to-day's mail.” 

‘‘ That will do very well,” said Fitzpatrick, who 
then proceeded to write the message in cipher. The 
despatch was directed to ‘‘ George H. Barton, No. 
Street, London, East,” and was signed 

P. Fitz P.” 

The old gentleman then hurriedly wrote in cipher 
a letter which he addressed to ‘‘ David H. Camp- 
bell, No. Street, London, West.” 

It is a good idea,” he said, as he wrote out the 
address, ‘‘ to send all despatches for the Grand 
Council to one member and all letters to another 
member.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


IS 


I shall direct the man in whose hands I place 
this letter to deliver it personally to Campbell/’ said 
Carlin, who added : I suppose that you will call a 
meeting of the New York Council at once.” 

“Yes; Fields will be here shortly, and I will send 
him out to bring in all of the available members of 
the Council.” 

At the mention of Fields’s name a peculiar smile 
had stolen into the countenance of Carlin, who now 
said : 

“ I met Fields coming out of the building, though 
of course he didn’t know , me in my disguise. He 
looked in high feather over something.” 

“ I was about to promote him to your place.” 

“ Well, Fields will have plenty of work as it is. 
But I must be off for the steamer.” 

Carlin hurried from the building and made his 
way to the nearest station of the Ninth Avenue Ele- 
vated Railway. The letter for the Grand Council of 
Stuart followers which the secret agent carried in 
his pocket set forth the main facts connected with 
the discovery of the son and the grandsons of Henry 
Lamont, who came to New York in the ship Orkney 
in 1838. It further stated that Alfred Lamont, or, 
as he called himself, Alfred Martel, would be com- 


76 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


municated with at once; and that from what had 
been seen of him he possessed the nerve necessary 
for the great undertaking which fate had marked 
out for him. 

Carlin was twice delayed owing to blockades in 
the densely crowded streets, and when he at length 
reached the dock of the outgoing mail steamship 
men were preparing to thrust the gang-plank 
ashore. He hurried up the plank and made his way 
quickly into the saloon. Two or three stewards 
were engaged in laying the cloth for luncheon. Car- 
lin approached one of these, a well-built young man 
with a rough but rosy countenance, and whispered 
to him: 

'‘Jim, you won’t recognize me, but I am Mr. 
Carlin.” 

The steward gave the secret agent a look of intelli- 
gence. 

" You will do us a great service,” continued Car- 
lin, " if you will deliver the letter I give you person- 
ally to the one to whom it is directed.” 

"All right, sir; you can depend on me!” was 
the reply. 

Carlin now took from his pocket the letter ad- 
dressed to Campbell and handed this to the young 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


77 


man, who took it with a firm grasp and, after glanc- 
ing at the address, thrust it into an inside coat- 
pocket. There was something in the determined 
way in which he did this which convinced Carlin that 
Jim would not part with that letter, alive, to any per- 
son except the one to whom it was addressed. 

The secret agent then hurried to the deck. The 
huge steamship was now sending forth hoarse roars 
from her lofty whistles. Passengers were waving 
their handkerchiefs to friends in the great crowd 
that lined the dock. The great mooring-lines had 
been cast off, while the mighty twin propellers at the 
ship's stern had begun to revolve and a slight mo- 
tion indicated to passengers and crew the fact that 
they were off. 

When Carlin reached the railing he discovered a 
large fender hanging over the ship's side just below 
him. By climbing down upon the fender he might 
hope to leap to the dock. He started to climb over 
the railing. Two passengers standing near by as- 
sisted him in getting safely upon the fender. Then 
he turned and leaped for the string-piece of the dock, 
upon which he landed in safety amid the applause of 
many of those who had watched this feat. Carlin 
then waved his hat to the two passengers who had 


78 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


aided him in getting ashore. He was now able to 
get a good look at the pair. They were rough-look- 
ing but well-dressed Englishmen who were very 
much alike in appearance, although one was taller 
than the other. 

'‘Where have I seen them before?” thought 
Carlin. " As I live, they are the pair who sat behind 
me the other night at Daly's ! They must have come 
out of the theatre right after me. Yes; I believe it 
is the pair who knocked me out and took me to the 
old rookery where I came so near being roasted. It 
seems odd that men who would try a game like that 
one could ever take the trouble to do any man a 
good turn. But why not? I have observed that in 
real life most heroes have their little vices; and why 
shouldn't you occasionally run across villains who 
have their little virtues? '' 

Carlin now watched the great steamship as it 
moved majestically out into the stream. But while 
looking at the attractive scene he also began to ob- 
serve, in a mechanical way and from mere force of 
habit, the people about him. Almost at his elbow 
stood a man with a flat nose and a bulldog look. 
With the latter were two fellows rather poorly 
dressed, who seemed to stand in great awe of him. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


79 


They would occasionally glance at him in a covert 
manner as if secretly striving to read his thoughts. 
He, however, did not seem to entertain any great 
regard for his companions, to one of whom he 
turned suddenly and in a low voice said : 

You spoke about a letter? ” 

‘‘Yes, sir; I did.’’ 

“ Where is it then? ” 

“ Here it is, sir,” replied the fellow, producing a 
sealed letter which he handed to his questioner. 

The latter held up the letter and looked carefully 
at its address; then he placed it in his pocket. Dur- 
ing the moment spent in scrutinizing the address 
upon the letter Carlin’s sharp eyes were also turned 
upon this. To his astonishment he saw that the let- 
ter was addressed to “ Patrick Fitzpatrick, Esq.” 

Carlin had now lost all interest in the departing 
steamer, and although he appeared to be gazing fix- 
edly out upon the river his attention was concentrat- 
ed upon the man with the bulldog look in his face. 

“ How came a letter for Fitzpatrick in their pos- 
session?” he thought. “Can they have waylaid 
some messenger with an important letter for the 
Council? Here is a matter that must be investi- 
gated ! ” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


THE COMMITTEE OF FOUR. 

When the great throng that had witnessed the 
departure of the steamship began to break up Carlin 
was still watching the man who had the suspicious 
letter in his possession. The latter and his two com- 
panions started down the dock, and Carlin followed 
them closely. He noticed that the two poorly 
dressed men seemed to be talking pleadingly to their 
companion, who presently nodded his head and ap- 
peared to give an answer that was satisfactory to , 
them. The trio parted at the corner of West and 
Christopher Streets. The poorly dressed pair en- 
tered a drinking-saloon, while their patron took a 
‘‘ cross-town ’’ street-car. Just as this latter was 
getting under way, Carlin boarded it and leaned 
against the railing of the rear platform. Glancing 
through the window he could command a good view 
of the suspected person, who occupied the second 
seat from the rear door of the car. This had pro- 
80 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


8i 


ceeded about a couple of blocks when Carlin saw 
the man take from his pocket a letter that was evi- 
dently sealed. 

'' It’s Fitzpatrick’s letter! ” thought Carlin as he 
bent forward and glued his eye to the window. 

The man tore open the envelope and^ taking out 
its contents, examined the latter with a puzzled air. 

It’s in cipher! ” thought Carlin. '' And it’s the 
Stuart cipher! ” 

Presently the man put the letter back into the en- 
velope, which he returned to his pocket. Evidently 
he was no wiser for what he had just read. When 
the car reached Broadway he alighted and entered 
a hotel, where he glanced around the bar-room as 
if in search of some one. Evidently the person for 
whom he was looking was elsewhere. He left the 
hotel and boarded a downtown car. As he sped 
down Broadway in one car Carlin was following him 
in the next car. The suspected person left his car 
at Wall Street, down which thoroughfare he pro- 
ceeded leisurely, while the secret agent kept him in 
view. Presently the man turned into a large office 
building. A moment later Carlin could have been 
seen standing in the hallway of this building and ap- 
parently lost in deep reflection. A short time after 


82 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


he had taken up this position an uneasy look stole 
into his face, over which he usually kept a firm con- 
trol. It had just occurred to him that the building 
might also have an entrance upon the next street. 
He soon discovered that such was the case. His 
man had evidently escaped him. After waiting 
about the building for nearly an hour, in the hope 
that the suspected person might still be about the 
place, Carlin gave up the search for the present. 

The secret agent then made his way toward Fitz- 
patrick’s office. When he stepped from the elevator 
he saw Fields mounting guard at the office door. 
The sentry saluted Carlin in military style and with 
a broad smile. Upon entering the office he saw a 
dozen gentlemen, who were seated closely together 
and with grave yet radiant faces were engaged in 
whispered consultation. One of these was Fitzpat- 
rick, who, when he saw Carlin enter the office, arose 
and greeted him pleasantly. 

'' You placed the letter on the steamship in reli- 
able hands, I suppose? ” said Fitzpatrick. 

Yes, sir. But I have to report that it is prob- 
able that an important cipher letter which was for- 
warded to you from some quarter by a special mes- 
senger has fallen into the hands of the enemy.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 83 

‘‘ It is comforting, Carlin, to reflect that the en- 
emy has no key to our cipher/’ 

'' Yet it is barely possible that they may have 
some one expert enough to get at the meaning of this 
letter. But even if it should prove too deep a puzzle 
for them to solve the fact still remains that an impor- 
tant letter which should have reached you has mis- 
carried.” 

“ I will write the Grand Council by the next mail 
that the letter has miscarried.” 

It may not have come from the Grand Council, 
yet may still be a very important letter.” 

Carlin then in a few words related his last ad- 
venture. 

I am sorry,” he continued, “ that I did not 
snatch the letter from the fellow ; but I had hopes of 
securing it in another and a safer way. A theory 
has just occurred to me that would explain, though 
not in a very satisfactory way, for the loss of the let- 
ter.” 

What is that theory? ” 

‘‘ I think that the letter was brought to New York 
by a special messenger who, like myself, was sup- 
posed by our enemies to have some connection with 
projected plots against England. He was un- 


84 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


fortunate enough to fall into hands similar to those 
in which I fell. He might or might not have been 
foully dealt with, but at any rate his body was found 
in the bay. In fact, he was the very person who 
from the newspaper description you mistook for 
me.'’ 

'' Possibly you are right, Carlin ; still I doubt if 
the cause is likely to suffer at all seriously through 
the loss of that letter." 

I certainly hope, Mr. Fitzpatrick, that I have 
overestimated the importance of the missing letter. 
But at any rate there is a possibility of my yet secur- 
ing it." 

Just then Fitzpatrick was joined by another mem- 
ber of the Council, who said: 

Then it is agreed that the Committee of Four 
wait upon the Prince to-night? " 

Yes, sir; I believe there was no objection 
offered to that plan." 

I suppose that you and our extremely clever 
friend, the secret agent, will accompany the Com- 
mittee of Four? " 

I believe that we will do ourselves that honor." 

The Council now broke up and its members be- 
gan to take their departure. Presently there were 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


85 


only five members left. These were Mr. Fitzpatrick 
and the Committee of Four. The latter had re- 
mained behind in order to fix upon the place and 
hour of their meeting, preparatory to calling upon 
Alfred Martel. It would have been quite evident to 
an observer that in the Committee of Four there 
were represented England, Scotland, Ireland, and 
Wales. A tall, florid-faced gentleman with large, 
expressive blue eyes would never have been mis- 
taken for other than an Irishman. His name, which 
was O’Farrell, was also suggestive of the Emerald 
Isle. England was represented by a bluff, purple- 
faced gentleman, who might have sat as a model for 
John Bull. His name was Carlton. Mr. Craig, a 
short, keen-eyed gentleman, had a typical Scotch 
face. The fourth member of the committee, Mr. 
Jones, had more of the look of an American than 
had any of the other three, but when he had occa- 
sion to speak his tongue would practically proclaim 
the fact that the land of his birth was Wales. 

It was finally agreed that the committee should 
meet at a certain one of the large hotels to the west 
of Central Park at eight o’clock. Then arose a ques- 
tion as to who should act as the spokesman of the 
committee. O’Farrell suggested the name of his 


86 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


English colleague. Carlton shook his head in a de- 
cided manner. 

‘‘Why do you suggest another’s name?” put in 
Fitzpatrick. “ You know, Mr. O’Farrell, that you 
are the one man in the Council who possesses a 
silver tongue.” 

A murmur of approval greeted Fitzpatrick’s sug- 
gestion. O’Farrell blushed slightly in a pleased 
manner and said : 

“ Gentlemen, I will do my best.” 

“ By the way,” asked Craig, “ is the Prince aware 
of his claim to the throne.” 

“ There is some uncertainty as to that point,” re- 
plied Fitzpatrick. “ Henry Lamont, or rather 
Stuart, who came to America in the ship Orkney, 
in 1838, was aware of his right to the crown, but as 
this fact had in the then existing condition of affairs 
caused him a vast deal of annoyance, and of danger 
as well, it is quite possible that he has never told 
Alfred of his birthright.” 

“ I believe that the papers which prove his rights 
are in your possession, Mr. Fitzpatrick? ” 

“ The Grand Council placed them in my hands. I 
have kept copies of them at my house; but the 
originals are in the safe deposit vaults.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 87 

‘'We had better take those papers with us/' said 
OTarrell. 

“Yes; take the originals/' said Carlton. 

The committee now adjourned, and Carlin was 
soon left alone with Mr. Fitzpatrick. After a short 
consultation between the pair they left the office. 
The old gentleman went to the safe deposit vaults 
and obtained a small iron box. This contained the 
papers that supplied the ground upon which the 
Stuart cause was likely to stand. 

Upon leaving Fitzpatrick the secret agent made 
his way to the neighborhood of Washington Square, 
where he secured new lodgings. He then started 
out upon a search which was suggestive of hunting 
for a needle in a haystack. He was looking for the 
suspected person who had in his possession the let- 
ter intended for Fitzpatrick. He continued the 
search during the entire afternoon without ac- 
complishing his purpose. When the evening fell 
he entered a quiet restaurant near Broadway and 
dined. 

Shortly before eight o'clock Carlin entered the 
main corridor of the hotel at which the Committee 
of Four was to meet. Fitzpatrick, O'Farrell, and 
Carlton had already arrived. A few moments later 


88 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Craig and Jones made their appearance. Craig and 
Fitzpatrick both appeared to be somewhat nervous, 
but the others gave little outward evidence of 
the fact that they were bent upon a mission that 
might result in the changing of the destinies of a 
great nation. OTarrelhs face was slightly flushed, 
as if he realized the importance of the part which had 
been assigned to him by his colleagues. After the in- 
terchange of a few whispered remarks the Commit- 
tee of Four, together with Fitzpatrick and Carlin, 
left the hotel. 

The secret agent led the way and soon turned into 
the side street down which he had that morning 
shadowed Alfred Martel. Presently the party ar- 
rived opposite the last house in the little block. A 
dim light proceeded from over the street door, but 
otherwise the house was dark. OTarrell and Carl- 
ton led the way up the steps and the former rang 
the door-bell. Soon steps were heard proceeding 
along the hall-way. Then the street door was par- 
tially opened and a middle-aged woman, evidently 
the housekeeper, looked out. She started back in 
astonishment at the sight of so many callers. 

Is Mr. Martel in? asked OTarrell. 

The woman eyed him sharply as she replied: 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 89 

‘‘ Do you mean the elder Air. Alartel or one of his 
sons? ’’ 

We wish to see Air. Alfred A'lartel.’' 

Do all of those gentlemen want to see Air. Alar- 
tel too? she asked as she eyed the other members 
of the party. 

All of us desire the honor of seeing Air. Alartel/’ 
replied the spokesman in his blandest tones. 

‘‘ Then will you please give me your cards.” 

I doubt if Air. Alartel would know us by our 
names.” 

Then will you please say what your business 
is?” 

‘‘We have come to see Air. Alartel on very impor- 
tant business. Will you kindly tell him that? ” 

“ I will ; but you will excuse me if I shut the door 
while I take up your message.” 

“ Aladam,” said O’Farrell with great urbanity, 
“ your discretion does you much credit.” 

The woman glanced at him with something of 
anger in her look, as if she had jumped at the con- 
clusion that his urbanity had been assumed as a 
mask for satire. Then with something of a slam she 
closed the door in the faces of the callers. For fully 
five minutes the latter stood outside the door and 


90 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


listened patiently for the return of the woman. 
Scarcely a word was uttered during the. entire wait. 
When at length footsteps were heard descending 
the stairs Craig uttered a sigh of relief. An instant 
later lights shone through the parlor windows, and 
it became evident to the members of the committee 
that an audience was about to the granted to them. 
Upon opening the street door for the second time 
the woman again eyed OTarrell with a look of dis- 
pleasure, but in polite tones she said : 

‘‘ You will walk into the parlor, gentlemen.’’ 

She led the way into a neatly furnished parlor at 
the further end of which hung a portiere that had 
been partially drawn aside, revealing a portion of a 
library. Upon the walls of the parlor hung the por- 
traits of a stately appearing gentleman and of a 
handsome lady. These evidently represented the 
late Henry Lamont, or Martel, and his wife. O’Far- 
rell had begun to examine these portraits closely 
when a nudge from Craig caused him to turn his 
head, and he perceived that Alfred Martel had en- 
tered the room. 


CHAPTER IX. 


A ROMANCE OF LONG AGO. 

There was a look suggestive of curiosity in the 
face of Alfred as he glanced at his visitors. They, as 
if moved by a common impulse, bowed low. And 
there was something so extremely deferential in 
their bearing toward him that Alfred’s attention was 
immediately arrested by it. Then with a perplexed 
yet dignified look he said : 

Gentlemen, may I ask what brings you here? ” 
O’Farrell now stepped a few feet in advance of the 
other members of the committee, and making an- 
other low bow, he said: 

Sir, we have come here upon a matter of the 
very utmost importance. You have it in your power 

to perform a great duty ” 

There was now an expression of deep interest in 
the countenance of Alfred, who interrupted the 
spokesman by saying : 

'' 1 always gladly strive to perform what I deem 
to be my duty.” 

91 


92 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


'' Sir/’ continued O’Farrell, '' we are encouraged 
by your fondness for duty. And it is in order to call 
your attention to the great duty I have referred to 
that we have ventured into your presence.” 

‘‘ I must say,” again interrupted Alfred, that 
there is something very peculiar not only about the 
expressions that you have used, but as well about 
the bearing of yourself and the other gentlemen 
toward myself.” 

‘‘ Sir, we are extremely respectful ” 

‘‘That is it,” said Alfred, with a peculiar smile; 
“ you are so extremely respectful.” 

“ But, sir, we are no more respectful than we 
should be. If you realized as we do your very great 
importance ” 

“ Really,” broke in Alfred, “ I must request you 
to cease addressing me in that spirit.” 

“ Sir,” continued the spokesman, “ I am now con- 
vinced that your father failed to communicate to you 
a certain very important secret concerning your 
family? ” 

Alfred gazed at the speaker, and in a manner 
which suggested that a very natural curiosity had 
taken possession of him, he asked: 

“ What do you know about my family? ” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


93 


Sir, we have in our possession the history of 
your family for many generations hackN 

'' My father never told me of our ancestors. He 
said there were strong reasons why he had assumed 
his mother’s name of Martel, and why he should not 
go into the past of our family. There was, he said, 
a curse upon us ; and he warned me to avoid all who 
should represent themselves as having a knowledge 
of our past. Sometimes I imagined that his mind 
had become clouded owing to the sad death of my 
mother; but again I believed that there was some 
great disgrace connected with our name. And, 
mindful of my father’s warnings, I have heretofore 
remained in seclusion lest I should learn that which 
might embitter the lives of myself and of my chil- 
dren. But now that you offer to me the fruit of the 
forbidden tree of knowledge I stretch forth my 
hand.” 

Alfred now looked at O’Farrell as if to eagerly de- 
mand the secret which he had so long striven to 
avoid discovering. 

'' Sir,” continued O’Farrell, are you aware of the 
real name of your father? ” 

His name was Henry Martel — or I should say 
his real family name was Lamont.” 


94 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Sir, Lamont is not your real family name! ” 

‘‘ Then what is our real name? ’’ 

It is Stuart. Your father, Henry Stuart, was 
undoubtedly the lawful heir of James the Second of 
England, who was wrongfully thrust from his throne 
by his false children and their allies.'' 

Alfred started back in utter amazement. 

“ Do you mean to say that I am descended from 
James the Second? " he demanded. 

Sir, you are the sixth in descent from James the 
Second. The first was the Chevalier Saint George; 
the second was Prince Charles Edward. Then came 

Charles Edward's son, Richard Charles " 

But Charles Edward left no issue " 

‘‘ Sir, pardon me," said O'Farrell with a smile, 
‘‘ but we have undoubted evidence that Charles Ed- 
ward left a lawful son and an heir in the person of 
Richard Charles. The latter's son, Stephen John, was 
the fourth in descent. Then came the fifth, who was 
Henry, your father. And that makes yourself the 
sixth in descent from the last Stuart who occupied 
the English throne." 

There was an expression of doubt in the face of 
Alfred as he listened to this statement. 

‘‘ If it were as you say," he replied, does it seem 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 95 

probable that my father would have warntrf'The 
against learning the past history of our family? 

Sir, your father was several times attacked by 
unknown assailants from whom he narrowly es- 
caped. He attributed these attacks to the secret 
agency of the home government, which might have 
known of his claims to the throne.’’ 

Do you know it to be a fact that he was thus at- 
tacked?” 

‘‘ Sir, we have absolute proofs of that fact to offer 
you. We can further show that your father was 
urged a number of times by some of the most reput- 
able representatives of the British people to set up 
the Stuart standard, as had his brave ancestor, 
Charles Edward ! ” 

At these words Alfred gave a start, and a deep 
flush surged into his dark cheeks. He now divined 
the real object which had brought the committee to 
his house. 

'' Sir,” continued O’Farrell, your father was of 
a retiring disposition. He was alarmed by the dan- 
gers that had threatened him owing to his being the 
representative of the Stuarts ; and he was distressed 
by importunities to assume his rights. These facts 
must have led him to regard the honors of his fam- 


96 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


ily in a gloomy light. Then came the death of his 
wife; and as you have hinted, his mind might have 
become somewhat clouded. Sir, under the circum- 
stances it is not at all surprising that your father 
should have spoken to you as he did.’’ 

The reasons you mention might possibly ac- 
count for my father’s course,” admitted Alfred. 

‘‘ But, sir, we have not come here merely to in- 
form you that you are the undoubted heir of the 
house of Stuart. The duty which your great an- 
cestor, Charles Edward, assumed, to his lasting 
glory, falls to his descendants.” 

Here Alfred raised his long, stalwart arm as if to 
command silence. 

.Stop ! ” he said in a low but authoritative tone. 

O’Farrell had paused and with bended head stood 
as if awaiting a further command. 

‘‘ Before you address me further in this vein,” 
said Alfred in a deliberate tone, I wish proofs, de- 
cided proofs, of your allegation that I am the lawful 
heir of the house of Stuart.” 

‘‘ Sir, you shall have them,” replied the spokes- 
man. 

O’Farrell now drew from an inside coat-pocket 
a packet of documents, which he quickly untied. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


97 


Alfred turned up the lights which hung over a small 
centre table. Then he drew up to the table two 
chairs. 

Gentlemen/’ he said, glancing around at the 
other chairs which the room contained, we might 
be seated.” 

Having said this he took one of the seats at the 
table. The others remained standing with their 
faces slightly bowed toward him. OTarrell laid the 
documents upon the table and selecting one from 
the number placed this before Alfred, who examined 
it with scrupulous carefulness. The paper, both in 
its texture and in its color, bore undoubted evidences 
of age. The manuscript was in a delicate feminine 
hand and bore the general peculiarities of penman- 
ship and of orthography that were in vogue in Eng- 
land about the middle of the eighteenth century. 
The document read as follows : 

London, April 5, 1750. 

I write this little narrative of facts for my dear 
son, Richard Charles; and it is my wish that after 
he reads this (which I trust shall be so soon as his 
mind shall have become sufficiently mature to un- 
derstand its purport), he shall carefully preserve it. 

7 


98 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


I am not devoid of ambition for my son, and there- 
fore I do counsel him that he shall not shrink from 
his duty, even as his dear father did not shrink from 
his. It is better that my son should die bravely for 
a great cause than that he should prosper and grow 
old in inglorious obscurity. Yet it is not for my own 
security but for the protection and safe-keeping of 
my dear son, Richard Charles, that I live in seclu- 
sion as plain Mistress Lamont. And for the same 
reasons I have told persons that my husband per- 
ished in behalf of the Stuart Princes in the last battle 
of that unhappy campaign (in which for the time 
right was cast down and wrong did triumph). Were 
it known who my dear son is, the hands of the assas- 
sins would be at his throat. 

My dear son, it was far from grim, smoky Lon- 
don that the romance of my life took place. I was 
among the hills of fair Scotland in the year 1745, 
making a visit to my noble kinsman, the Lord of 
Glengower. My lady, his wife, was old and feeble; 
but my lord, though yet older, was far sturdier and 
bore his years right well. His only son, the Master 
of Glengower, was journeying in distant lands, and 
I never saw him. When the news came that Prince 
Charlie had unfurled the Stuart banner at Glenfin- 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


99 


nan, and that he would march toward London, Lord 
Glengower said that he was glad his son, the Master, 
was in foreign lands (since now he need not risk his 
life or his inheritance by espousing either the Stuart 
or the Hanover side in the struggle). As to my lord, 
he was too old himself to place his sword at the dis- 
posal of either party. I took a deep interest in the 
struggle, and my heart went out to the Stuart cause. 

'' One day in March of 1746, a detachment of the 
follow^ers of Prince Charlie were encamped within 
a few miles of Glengower, where they were to re- 
main some days while other bands from different 
places were to join them. I longed to make a visit 
to the camp in order that my eyes should behold the 
valiant men of that brave cause; but Lord Glen- 
gower begged me not to go (lest my visit might 
seem to have been made at his behest). And though 
in his heart he wished to see the Stuart cause tri- 
umph he was too timid to commit himself to Prince 
Charlie. I respected his wishes and did not venture 
to the camp. But upon the afternoon after I had 
learned of the presence in our neighborhood of the 
Stuart followers I wandered across the fields, my 
thoughts intent upon the great struggle. I won- 
dered what kind of a princely youth was the brave 


100 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Charles Edward. Then I pictured him to myself; 
and the picture that I drew in my mind was so plain 
and clear that it seemed to me I could behold it with 
my eyes. Then as I wandered on, all heedless of my 
steps, I stumbled and fell over a moss-covered rock. 
Then to my surprise I foundmiyself being lifted to 
my feet by a gentleman. I was so confused that I 
scarce dared look at him. But when my eyes grew 
bolder, and as I gave him thanks for his aid, I 
glanced full at him. Then I beheld the very image 
of him that I had pictured in my fancy. And there 
came into my mind the firm belief that I stood be- 
fore Prince Charlie himself. 

‘‘ As I looked at him my heart gave one great 
bound, for in his eyes I read admiration of myself. 
And the same sweet moment that I met that look of 
his I loved the Prince. He talked of different mat- 
ters lightly but understandingly. My confusion 
soon gave way to a feeling of blissful ease and I 
readily made answer to his questions. His glances 
grew more admiring, and they did exercise over me 
a complete fascination. In my heart I felt that I was 
already his. It must have been hours after he raised 
me from the ground (though it had seemed but mo- 
ments) when a shadow crept over his face and he 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


lOI 


said that he must leave me. A shadow must have 
crept into my face as well, but it passed away when 
he asked if I would meet him there the next after- 
noon. He was overjoyed when I told him yes; and 
then I said that I knew who he was. He smiled and 
asked me to give his name. I said that he was none 
other than Prince Charlie. He looked startled, and 
then asked me how I had discovered him. I said 
that my heart had told me, and again he looked over- 
joyed. 

“ The next afternoon we met over by the moss- 
covered rock. He told me of his love for me, and I 
told him of my love for him. He knew that I lacked 
high position (though I had been bred a lady and my 
forefathers for some generations had been gentle- 
men). But he was generous, and he proposed an 
immediate marriage. I was a Catholic as well as the 
Prince. He asked me if there was not in the neigh- 
borhood some priest of our faith who could be relied 
upon to hold his tongue. I told him of Father 
O'Neil, who had a little chapel near Glengower. 
Together we went to Father O'Neil. The Prince 
gave the Father, who was very poor, a goodly fee, 
and the priest swore to keep silence until he was 
bidden to loose his tongue. Then Father O'Neil 


102 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


married me to the Prince, and he wrote out a certifi- 
cate of the marriage (which I shall one day deliver 
to you, my dear son). 

‘‘ The seventh day after I was married to Prince 
Charles Edward his servant brought me a letter, in 
which he said he was forced to start at once to join 
the main body of his army. He directed me to remain 
quietly at Glengower until he should send for me, and 
he cautioned me to keep silent until such a time in 
regard to the great honor which he had conferred 
upon me. It was a sad blow to part with him so 
soon; but his word was law unto me, and I obeyed 
him. For a time I received letters regularly from 
the Prince, my husband. But there came a fearful 
day when I learned that he had fled, after his hopes 
had been shattered upon the battle-field of Cul- 
loden. Then my agony became unbearable, and for 
a time I was bereft of sense. When at last I came to 
myself I was conscious of the fact that one day I 
should be called upon to assume the duties of a 
mother. I left Glengower and journeyed to Lon- 
don. There I found my good Aunt Rebecca, to 
whom I told the truth. She gave me shelter, and 
under her roof, my dear son, you were born, on the 
eighteenth day of December in the year 1746. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


103 


I had received no letter from my husband since 
his flight, and when you were some few months old 
I cast about me for a way of communicating with 
your father. I was told that he was somewhere on 
the Continent, but rumor gave his residence in dif- 
ferent quarters, and I was perplexed as to where to 
direct my letter. One day as I glanced out into the 
street I beheld the serving-man of the Prince (he 
was the same one who had brought me his letter 
telling of his forced departure from my loving arms). 
I called after the man, and he recognized me. He 
said that he still served my husband (who believed 
me dead). The Prince had sent the man to London 
upon a secret mission; but he would deliver any 
letter that I might write to his master, whose present 
place of residence, he said, must be kept even from 
myself. I quickly wrote a letter, in which I assured 
my husband that I was still alive, and had obeyed 
his orders instead of striving to seek him out. I told 
him of your birth, my dear son, and I begged of him 
to command me to share his exile with him. This 
letter I gave the servant, who promised faithfully to 
deliver the same. 

‘‘ Two months later there came to me a letter 
which gave me great grief. It was not from the 


104 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Prince, but from his father, the Chevalier St. George. 
The elder Prince wrote that my letter had come to 
him by mistake, and it had caused him much dis- 
tress. My husband, he said, had been informed that 
I had died of grief after the news of his defeat at 
Culloden. The father feared that if it should become 
known that Prince Charlie had married beneath his 
rank it might injure the cause. He therefore begged 
of me to show my love for his son by waiting in pa- 
tient silence until the right should triumph. Then 
he promised me, upon his word as a Prince, that he 
would see that justice was done me. In my anger 
I tore up the letter from the Chevalier, and I re- 
solved to proclaim my marriage to the world. Then 
(the fire of my wrath having burned low) a kindlier 
spirit did sway me. I resolved that I should never, 
by any act of mine, become a hindrance to the great 
cause, or to the father of my dear husband. And 
it is a matter of comfort to feel I shall not need to 
call on any person for worldly succor, since my good 
Aunt Rebecca has promised to leave her little fort- 
une to myself and to my son. 

'' And now, my dear son, I shall close this little 
narrative by urging you to serve your father as faith- 
fully as I have served my husband. Something tells 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 105 

me that the day will come when he will do his own 
justice. Something tells me that I shall yet behold — 
But I must do nothing to arouse false hopes in the 
breast of my dear son. These would not fit him for 
his future struggles, in which he must quit himself 
like a worthy descendant of great kings. 

‘‘Janet Lamont.'* 


CHAPTER X. 


PROOFS. 

There was a suggestive moisture visible in the 
large, deep-set eyes of Alfred as he laid down the 
manuscript of Janet Lamont. The next paper which 
was placed before him by OTarrell was the mar- 
riage certificate referred to by Janet. It was written 
upon time-stained parchment and was signed by 
Father O’Neil in a somewhat tremulous hand. The 
document was also signed by the contracting parties. 
The groom had written his name “ Charles Edward 
Louis Philip Casimir,” but to this no title was af- 
fixed. There was a suggestion of nervousness about 
the signature of the bride, but it was an easy matter 
to identify it as that of the same person who had 
written the other document which had been ex- 
amined. The certificate bore upon its face every 
evidence of being genuine. A small bundle of let- 
ters was next examined by Alfred. These were 

signed Charles Edward,” and proved to be the let- 
106 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


107 


ters from her husband, to which Janet had referred 
in her narrative. These epistles were much worn, 
and evidently had been accorded many perusals by 
the unfortunate lady to whom they had been ad- 
dressed. The resemblance between the signatures 
of these letters and that of the groom in the marriage 
certificate was so striking as to leave no doubt but 
that they had been written by the same hand. The 
letters were short, and were lover-like in tone; but 
they threw no new light upon Prince Charlie’s 
famous struggle to secure for his father the British 
throne. When Alfred had finished reading the last 
of the letters he glanced up quickly at O’Farrell and 
asked : 

'' Has this handwriting ever been compared with 
that of any paper which undoubtedly came from the 
hand of Charles Edward? ” 

'' Sir,” replied O’Farrell, “ the comparison which 
you suggest was made long ago, and there can be 
no doubt but that the letters before you are in the 
handwriting of Charles Edward.” 

Alfred next turned his attention to what proved 
to be the certificate of the marriage of Richard 
Charles Lamont and Constance Agatha Brownwell, 
which was represented as having taken place in the 


io8 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


town of Harwich, England, on June 1 1, 1781. With 
this certificate was a letter from Janet Lamont to 
Richard Charles, congratulating him upon his mar- 
riage, and also expressing regret that his illustrious 
father had contracted, although innocently upon his 
part, a bigamous marriage. She concluded the let- 
ter with the hope that her son would one day be 
acknowledged the head of the august house of 
Stuart. Another marriage certificate was the next 
document that was placed before Alfred. This bore 
testimony of the marriage, in the town of Harwich 
on October 8, 1810, of Stephen John Lamont and 
Jane Martel. The names of the parents of the con- . 
tracting parties were given in this certificate, and 
those of the groom were set down as Richard 
Charles Lamont and Constance A. Brownwell. 

Sir,’' said O’Farrell, as he placed another paper 
before Alfred, ‘‘ here is a memorandum in regard 
to the parish register in which is recorded the birth 
of Henry, the son of Stephen John Lamont and of 
his wife Jane, which took place on September 5, 
1812. You will observe, sir, on the same paper a 
memorandum which states where are to be found 
recorded the births of Stephen John and of his 
father, Richard Charles. Stephen John Lamont was 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


109 


born on June 6, 1783. The date of the birth of 
Richard Charles Lamont was recorded as given in 
the narrative of his mother.'’ 

Alfred next turned his attention to two letters 
which were fastened together. Upon glancing at 
one of these he expressed some little emotion: 

It is in the handwriting of my father,” he said 
in a low voice as he began to read it. 

This letter was dated at London in the year 1837, 
and was signed by Henry Lamont. It ran as fol- 
lows: 

Gentlemen : I have received your communica- 
tion of the 13th inst., in which you beg of me to per- 
form what you represent as my duty to the British 
people. I admit that I am the heir of the house of 
Stuart, but I do not agree with you that I could suc- 
ceed in securing the throne. Even if I should I am 
not qualified by nature to rule a great people. These 
appeals to myself to undertake that for which I am 
not fitted cause me great distress. More than that, 
I have been several times set upon by ruffians whom 
I believe to have been instigated to their purpose by 
secret agents of the government, which must have 
become in some way aware of my descent from the 


no 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Stuarts. I am heartily tired of the whole matter, 
and I assure you, gentlemen, that I shall never for a 
moment think of undertaking the enterprise which 
you are pleased to mention as my duty. I return to 
you herewith the ill-advised communication which 
you sent me upon the 13th inst.’’ 

The appeal which had drawn forth this letter was 
the paper that was attached to it. Another letter 
written by Henry Lamont was then perused by Al- 
fred. This was dated in September, 1838, and was 
addressed to one of the persons who had signed the 
appeal presented to Henry the previous year. In 
the letter Henry stated that he had resolved to avoid 
the importunities of his misguided friends and the 
assaults of his hidden enemies by leaving England 
forever. He closed by saying: The documents 
which prove my descent from the Stuarts, and upon 
which you set such store, have been delivered by me 
to my friend and spiritual adviser, the Rev. Allan 
Brown.”’ 

'' Sir, you have examined all of the proofs of your 
claims, which are in my possession, with the excep- 
tion of two,” said O’Farrell as he placed before Al- 
fred a clipping from an English newspaper of the 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Ill 


date of October — , 1838. The clipping contained 
an announcement that among the passengers of the 
ship Orkney, which had sailed for America a few 
days before, was Henry Lamont, a young gentle- 
man who was said by some to have been a descend- 
ant of the Stuart Kings. 

The last of the documents laid before Alfred was 
a statement by the Rev. Allan Brown, to the effect 
that certain documents, of which he gave a full in- 
ventory, had been placed in his keeping by Henry 
Lamont, who had sailed for America on the ship 
Orkney in October, 1838. The inventory named 
very clearly the very documents which had just been 
produced by Fitzpatrick. 

After finishing the statement of the Rev. Mr. 
Brown, Alfred leaned back in his chair and seemed 
to be engaged in mentally going over the evidence 
which had been presented to him. O’Farrell waited 
patiently for a few moments, and then, with some- 
thing of the air of a lawyer who has just succeeded 
in presenting a very strong case, he said : 

Sir, the few documents which will be needed to 
connect yourself, without any shadow of a doubt, to 
the royal line of Stuart can be supplied by yourself.’’ 

For a moment Alfred did not appear to have 


II2 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


noticed the last remark of O’Farrell. Then sud- 
denly seeming to remember himself, he replied : 

I have undoubted evidence that my father was 
the Henry Lamont who came to America in the ship 
Orkney in the year 1838. Then I have the certifi- 
cate of the marriage of my parents.” 

Sir, may I ask who was your mother? ” 

‘‘ My mother’s maiden name was Helen Warren. 
She was married to my father in 1840. I was born 
in the following year. She died when I was very 
young.” 

‘‘ Sir, may I ask if your mother was aware of her 
husband’s rights? ” 

‘‘ I doubt if she ever learned the secret which he 
was at such pains to keep from his son.” 

Sir, it might seem presumptuous upon my part 
to ask if your mother’s family was one of position? ” 

I cannot say that they were a family of what 
would be called position. But they were an old as 
well as a respectable family. I have a copy of my 
mother’s pedigree, which is sustained by public gen- 
ealogical records, and which shows her to have been 
a direct descendant of John Sobieski of Poland.” 

Sir, this is the second time that the blood of 
Sobieski has been mingled with that of Stuart.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


113 

'' You see upon the wall the portraits of my par- 
ents/’ said Alfred, as he arose to his feet and began 
to gather up the documents which he had recently 
examined. Having collected the papers in a bundle 
he offered this to O’Farrell, who* respectfully drew 
back and said : 

Sir, we did not look to see you return these 
proofs of your exalted rank. It is not possible that 
you would question the fact that you are the un- 
doubted descendant and heir of the Stuarts ! ” 

That I am the descendant of the Stuarts I cannot 
doubt,” replied Alfred; but as to my claiming heir- 
ship to their rights, that is a very different matter.” 

Sir, your father declared that he was unfitted by 
nature for the position to which he was called. You 
have been more generously dealt with by nature. 
She has shaped you and endowed you for the posi- 
tion which it was doubtless her intention that you 
should assume.” 

Again a flush made its way into Alfred’s dark 
cheek. But an instant later his usual calmness 
seemed to have returned, and in his deliberate tone 
he replied : 

'' Although I seem to have been spared some of 
the weaknesses with which my father’s nature was 
8 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


114 

afflicted, yet I am in accord with him in his belief 
that a quiet life of seclusion would be prefer- 
able ’’ 

Provided, sir, that it were consistent with duty,'’ 
interrupted O'Farrell. 

‘‘ And it would be consistent with duty, unless the 
call of duty should be very urgent, and should be 
made in far more decided tones than those in which 
it has come either to my father or to myself." 

Having said these words Alfred bowed to the 
committee in a manner which seemed to imply that 
the interview was at an end, and he again offered 
the papers to the spokesman. 

Sir," pleaded O'Farrell, “ you are too fair- 
minded to give your final decision in this matter 
until you have listened to all of the arguments 
which we have to advance why you should listen 
to the call." 

‘‘ Although it is probable," replied Alfred, ‘‘ that 
what I have just said will prove to be my final de- 
cision, I will listen patiently to all that you may 
choose to say concerning the matter." 

'' Sir, you will pardon us if we hold a brief consul- 
tation? " 

‘^Certainly," replied Alfred; ‘‘and lest my pres- 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


115 


ence should in any way embarrass you, I will with- 
draw from the room/’ 

Having said this he bowed to the Committee and 
entered the library, drawing the portiere to after 
him. 


CHAPTER XI. 


A GREAT EXAMPLE. 

As soon as Alfred had withdrawn from the parlor 
the Committee of Four and its two auxiliaries put 
their heads together in an extremely earnest manner. 
Evidently they had not counted upon this opposi- 
tion from Alfred. 

Gentlemen/’ said O’Farrell, ‘‘ although un- 
doubtedly I am the one best qualified to address the 
Prince, it is more than likely that some of you can 
suggest a stronger line of argument than will be 
likely to occur to me.” 

‘‘ You were doing well enough,” said Craig. 

But the card for you to play is to stick to it — pour 
in argument after argument until he sees that you 
have no idea of admitting his right to refuse our 
demands.” 

Jones shook his head and said: 

That is a nice bull-dog way of going into a battle 
with an enemy; but when you come to appeal to a 
friend you should do it in less words.” 

ii6 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


117 

Carlton nodded his head in approval of the opin- 
ion advanced by Jones, and he muttered: 

‘'Right! right! Be to the point! '' 

“ But what I want you to do, gentlemen,’' said 
O’Farrell, with something of impatience in his tone, 
“ is to suggest some convincing argument to use 
with the Prince.” 

Craig now turned to Fitzpatrick and asked him 
if he had any suggestions to make. 

“ I have only to say,” replied the latter, “ that now 
that we have found our Prince it will never do 


“ I know — I know,” broke in O’Farrell; “ that’s 
all very well in its way, but it won’t convince the 
Prince! ” Just then his eye fell upon Carlin and he 
said : “ Perhaps our friend here may think of some- 
thing.” 

The secret agent did have something to suggest. 
Placing his hand upon the shoulder of the spokes- 
man he rapidly, but in a low tone, poured into his 
ear words which seemed to make a strong impres- 
sion. When Carlin had finished, his hand was 
warmly shaken by O’Farrell, who said: 

“ That will answer! I will first try the Prince in a 
general way with the arguments I had thought of. 


ii8 A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 

Then at the right moment I will use your sugges- 
tion, and I will pour it in like hot shot! 

The spokesman now advanced to the portiere and 
in an extremely respectful manner announced to 
Alfred that he was prepared to resume the appeal. 
He then withdrew to the position which he had 
formerly occupied near the table. The rattle of the 
rings of the portiere as it was being slowly drawn 
aside was heard, and Alfred returned upon the scene. 
His look was dignified, but there was about it some- 
thing which suggested that during the recent inter- 
val his firmness had recruited itself. He remained 
standing and glanced at the spokesman as if to in- 
vite him to resume the expression of his views. 

'' Sir,’’ began O’Farrell, ''in your objections to our 
appeal you intimated that the call to duty had not 
been made in very decided tones.” 

Alfred nodded his head, and said: 

" A majority of the British people would no doubt 
oppose my claim.” 

" Sir, have you forgotten the fact that the house 
of Stuart was the popular house of Great Britain; 
that your ancestors, the Chevalier St. George and 
his noble son. Prince Charlie, were kept out of their 
own solely through ill-luck; that the great majority 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


II9 

of the British people wished them back. Since the 
death of Prince Charlie, it is true, the occupants of 
the throne have been practically unopposed — but, 
why? Simply because it was believed that the right- 
ful line of Stuart was extinct. But we know that 
the line still exists and that it has an heir worthy 
of it.’’ 

Alfred shook his head, but O’Farrell continued: 

‘‘ Even the descendants of the daughter of James 
the First, who have sat on the British throne for the 
last century — the bad and the good of them, the un- 
just and the just — have ruled in ignorance of the 
fact that the lawful male line of the house of Stuart 
still remained an unbroken chain. In Great Britain 
to-day there are countless branches of a secret or- 
ganization in which it is known that the Stuart 
Princes yet live. And when the true facts are pub- 
lished broadcast there will go up a mighty cry — a 
great, irresistible demand that justice shall be done, 
though the heavens fall ! ” 

It was plain from the expression in Alfred’s face 
that he had not yet been convinced. He replied: 

Even then I fear that it might be necessary to 
use force.” 

‘‘ Sir, force might be necessary, to a certain ex- 


120 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


tent; but it is quite possible that the restoration can 
be effected peacefully. There are two plans that 
have been suggested. One is to suddenly place be- 
fore the British public the proofs which, sir, you still 
hold in your hand.’^ 

Alfred now seemed to remember that the docu- 
ments which went to show that he had a claim upon 
the throne of Great Britain were yet in his right 
hand. He now quietly advanced to the table and 
laid down the papers. O’Farrell, without having 
appeared to notice this action, continued: 

Having made public the facts that the lawful 
heir of the house of Stuart is in existence and that 
he demands his rights, we would conduct simul- 
taneously throughout the islands a number of vast 
demonstrations in favor of the restoration. Then 
there would be a grand uprising of the people such 
as the world never before had seen. Then the claim- 
ant to the throne would cross the English Channel 
from the point in which he had been in waiting for 
the great event. He would land amid great rejoic- 
ings and would be hailed as the rightful King of 
Great Britain and Ireland.” 

Alfred had listened calmly to OTarrell’s rose- 
tinted version of a plan for elevating him to the 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


I2I 


British throne. He now seated himself, and looking 
up at OTarrell in an inquiring manner said: 

I think that you spoke of another plan.’’ 

Sir, the other plan is the one which would be 
more likely to prove successful — or rather it would 
make success doubly sure. It resembles the first 
plan in everything save one important particular. 
And that exception would be that instead of re* 
maining beyond the Channel while the initial steps 
were being taken the claimant himself should stand 
upon English soil, with the standard of the Stuarts 
unfurled! It would be easier for his people to flock 
to him than to send for him.” 

“ It seems to me,” said Alfred, after a moment’s 
reflection, that if either of the plans was feasible, 
the latter would be the preferable one.” 

'' Sir, it is very evident that fear has no part in the 
composition of your character.” 

There would be very little for the claimant to 
fear upon his own account,” replied Alfred. “ But 
he would have much to fear for his over-enthusias- 
tic friends, who in the excitement of the moment 
might go too far.” 

Sir, the throne of England was once torn from 
the rightful Prince and without the spilling of a 


122 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


single drop of blood. And is it unreasonable to as- 
sume that it can be transferred back to the lawful 
house in fully as peaceful a manner? Besides, the 
claimant would have a safety-valve which he could 
use at any moment should the danger of bloodshed 
seem imminent. He could withdraw his claims to 
the throne. It would take but a second to flash the 
news of his abdication into every corner of the Brit- 
ish Islands. In short, the danger of the restoration 
being accompanied by the spilling of blood is so 
slight that this is scarcely worth the taking into 
consideration.’’ 

O’Farrell paused as if to invite Alfred to acknowl- 
edge the truth of his last arguments. But instead 
of such an acknowledgment there came this reply, 
uttered in a determined manner: 

Gentlemen, you have so far said nothing that 
convinces me that it is my duty to lend myself to 
the proposed restoration.” 

O’Farrell now turned his head slightly and gave 
Carlin a peculiar glance, which seemed to say: 
'' Now is the time to use your suggestion.” Then, 
with a cheerful look and all undaunted by Alfred’s 
cold words, he resumed his arguments: 

‘‘ Sir, should you be pleased to finally listen to the 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


123 


call of duty you would be afforded innumerable op- 
portunities for doing good. In the past it has been 
your pleasure to play the knight-errant. You have 
thus done good; but it has been in a small way, ow- 
ing to your limited field. But should you take the 
place for which you were designed, consider the vast 
scale upon which you could benefit not only the peo- 
ple of Great Britain, but mankind at large. Think 
of the countless sufferers of to-day who would be 
relieved by your chivalrous efforts! Think of the 
tyrants, large and small, who would find between 
themselves and their victims the strong arm of a 
mighty King! Think of the worthy strugglers whose 
brave efforts under existing conditions receive no 
acknowledgment, and think of the encouragement 
and the reward that it would be in your power to 
give such! Think of the ways in which you might 
educate and elevate the downtrodden classes of your 
people. There positively is no limit to the good 
which it might be in your power to work ! ’’ 

Again had a flush stolen into Alfred's cheek, but 
otherwise he gave no evidence of having been im- 
pressed by the stirring words of O'Farrell. The lat- 
ter continued : 

Sir, with a chivalrous monarch upon the British 


124 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


throne, can there be any doubt but that there would 
be accorded to Ireland certain rights for which she 
has long struggled? I shall not point out the names 
of the great rulers who by their noble deeds have 
rendered their names immortal. It would not be for 
the reward of fame that you would undertake great 
deeds; it would be for the good that would spring 
from them. But I shall mention one great name, 
simply in order to show you what a tremendous 
amount of good one chivalrous ruler may perform. 
Some thirty years ago there was a President of this 
great Republic of the West named Abraham Lin- 
coln. He did much to save his noble country from 
a division which might have dwarfed her usefulness. 
As to this point there may yet be some little doubt in 
a few minds. But upon one point there can be no 
question. And that is that before Abraham Lincoln 
fell he had accomplished one tremendous work — at 
one blow he had struck the shackles from off three 
million human slaves! ’’ 

OTarrell paused. Then suddenly there was heard 
the crash of a chair that had been overthrown. 
Alfred had sprung to his feet. There was a strange 
glow in his deep eyes as he faced the men who had 
come there to urge him to a momentous step. He 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


125 


raised his arm toward OTarrell, and in a voice 
which contained a tremor of emotion, he ex- 
claimed : 

‘‘Say no more! I am convinced! I now heed 
the mighty call to which I was at first deaf. Come 
what will, I shall unfurl upon the soil of England the 
standard of my fathers ! 


CHAPTER XII. 


THE ELDEST SON. 

Alfred's announcement of his determination to 
undertake the great enterprise to which he had been 
urged was hailed with joy by his adherents. Then 
followed a consultation, in which the latter pre- 
sented to their chief a quantity of facts and figures 
concerning the numerous organizations which had 
been formed in the interest of the cause, not only in 
the British Islands but throughout the entire Eng- 
lish-speaking portions of the globe. Fitzpatrick in- 
formed Alfred that he would despatch a report of his 
acceptance of the call of duty to the Grand Council 
of the Stuart organizations in London by the steam- 
ship which was to sail on the following afternoon. 

The Grand Council will, of course, be the best 
advisers as to the proper time for you to proceed 
to England," said O'Farrell, ‘‘ but the time to 
buckle on your armor may arrive at any moment." 

To this remark Alfred, with a smile, manifested 
126 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


127 


assent. It was then arranged that the New York 
Council should hold a conference with their chief at 
Fitzpatrick's office on the following afternoon. 

When the members of the committee had taken 
leave of Alfred he retired to his library, where he 
proceeded to again examine the documents which 
O’Farrell had placed in his hands. Half an hour 
later footsteps were heard in the hallway, but so in- 
tent was he upon the documents that he paid little 
heed to the sounds. A moment later he heard the 
rattle of the portiere rings. He now looked up and 
saw before him his younger son, Thomas. The 
youth, who bore the striking resemblance to the 
picture of Prince Charlie, stood in a somewhat awk- 
ward manner. Evidently there was something that 
weighed upon his mind. 

I am somewhat surprised, Tom,” said the father, 
at your dropping in upon me at this hour. But I 
am very glad you have come. There is something 
of importance which I wish to say to you.” 

Tom looked at his father in a manner that sug- 
gested great surprise, and said : 

Who has gone and told you about it, sir? ” 

My son, a party of gentlemen called here ” 

A party of gentlemen! ” exclaimed the yet more 


128 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


astonished Tom. How could they have learned 
about Mr. Simpson’s failure? ” 

Alfred now observed that his son’s mind had be- 
come engrossed by some affair of his own. 

‘‘ I see, Tom,” he said, ‘‘ we were at cross-pur- 
poses. It is plain that there is something which you 
wish to say to me. Well, out with it.” 

Well, sir, you see,” said Tom, that I have 
taken a good deal of interest in Mr. Simpson.” 

‘‘ And who, may I ask, is Mr. Simpson? ” 

Why, sir, he is the father of Miss Simpson.” 

‘‘ So, so — I begin to see.” 

And, oh, father,” continued the young man in 
an eager manner, Bessie is such a sweet, true 
girl!” 

A shade of annoyance crept into the face of Alfred 
as he looked searchingly at his son. 

Tom,” he asked, in a serious tone, how far 
has this matter gone? ” 

The young man seemed to be casting about in his 
mind for the best words in which to express himself, 
when his father came to his aid by inquiring: 

Has there been an engagement? ” 

“ I would say, sir, that Bessie and I are as good 
as engaged.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


129 


You do not expect, do you, Tom, to be able 
to help Mr. Simpson out of his financial difficul- 
ties?” 

Oh, no, sir; Mr. Simpson is in bad health, and 
he will not undertake to go into business again.” 

What business was he in? ” 

“ He kept a shoe-store on one of the West Side 
avenues, sir.” 

I am sorry for him, Tom.” 

'' But you see, sir, I thought that in view of the 
difficulties which have overwhelmed Bessie’s father 
that it was my duty to go to the aid of her family.” 

And in order to go to their aid some one I 
fancy will first have to go to your aid. Is that the 
idea?^’ 

You see, sir, I thought that if I could get a share 
in a certain good, paying business I could marry 
Bessie and take care of her family without in any 
way wounding their pride.” 

‘‘ You remember, Tom, that when you went into 
the picture business in Baltimore, you lost the two 
thousand dollars which your mother had left you. 
You thought the failure was due to a lack of ex- 
perience, so you hired yourself as a clerk in a down- 
town picture shop; but I believe you gave up that 
9 


130 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


position the other day without having thoroughly 
mastered the trade. And do you wish now to try 
the picture business again?’’ 

“ It’s another business, sir; a sure paying one re- 
quiring no experience. I can have a share in it for 
five thousand dollars.” 

But you know, my son, that my means are quite 
limited. Five thousand dollars would prove a very 
serious drain upon my present resources. Besides, 
your brother, who has rights in the matter, might 
object to your risking money to which he has a 
claim.” 

An uneasy look had settled in Tom’s face. Then 
an idea came to his aid, and bending eagerly toward 
his father, he said: 

But, sir, Henry only has a claim on half the five 
thousand dollars. Suppose you let me have twenty- 
five hundred dollars, and I will see what can be done 
with that.” Then assuming an appealing tone, Tom 
pleaded: You, father, who are always so mindful 

of the needs of others, will not refuse a favor which 
will be the means of doing so much good to Bes — to 
some very worthy people? ” 

A moment ago, Tom, you admitted that Mr. 
Simpson, owing to ill-health, had no intention of 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


131 

resuming business. And you will now admit that 
Mr. Simpson and his family are not in immediate 
want of food, clothing, or shelter.'' 

‘‘ They are not in want just now, sir; but they are 
likely to be within a few months." 

Then, Tom, your appeal certainly lacks the ele- 
ments which are requisite in order to touch my heart 
— to the extent you desire. Now, while I have no in- 
tention of seeing the Simpsons suffer from absolute 
want, I would certainly counsel you to content your- 
self for the present with offering them your sym- 
pathy, which it will be evident to them is perfectly 
genuine." 

‘‘ But, sir, they might think that my sympathy 
ougl^t to have back of it something that was tan- 
gible." 

‘‘ Still, my son, you would be doing for them 
everything that lay in your power." 

Tom bit his lip. 

‘‘ I suppose, Tom," continued the father, that 
Bessie loves you." 

Oh, father, she does love me!'^' replied the 
youth. 

As he said this his eyes gave a slight upward roll ; 
and there was something in that roll which sug- 


132 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


gested that a momentary feeling of ecstasy had 
taken possession of him. 

‘‘ Then, my son, you will now have a chance to 
prove her love for you.’’ 

This notion did not appear to impress Tom at all 
favorably. 

But, sir,” he pleaded, ‘‘ you ought to remember 
that there is the danger of some other fellow com- 
ing along and snapping Bessie up.” 

You mean, Tom, that if you delay offering 
substantial assistance someone with means might 
marry Bessie.” 

‘‘ That is what might happen, sir.” 

'' But, Tom, in that case you would really have 
cause to be thankful. Mr. Simpson, as well as Bes- 
sie, would be provided for. They would be entirely 
freed from the threatenings of want, and conse- 
quently you yourself would be relieved from what 
is now a cause of great solicitude to you.” 

The youth directed at his father a reproachful 
glance, and with a deep sigh he turned as if to leave 
the room. Then it evidently occurred to him that his 
parent was entitled to respect, notwithstanding his 
obstinate conduct. 

Good-night, sir,”, said Tom. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


133 


Good-night, my son/’ 

After his son had left the room Alfred shook his 
head in somewhat dubious manner. 

‘‘ I will not tell him of his prospects in his present 
frame of mind,” he thought. 

Alfred now resumed the examination of the docu- 
ments. A few moments later he again heard foot- 
steps close at hand, and he paused in his work. 

What,” he thought, is Tom back again? ” 

The portiere was pushed aside and Alfred saw his 
elder son, Henry. The latter bore a slight resem- 
blance to his father, but few persons would have 
taken’^him for Tom’s brother. Henry’s face was an 
earnest one, and there was also in it something 
which seemed to suggest strong self-esteem. 

‘‘ And you too have dropped in to see me, Henry,” 
said Alfred. As I said to Tom when he came in 
here a short time ago, I am surprised to see you — 
Still I am very glad that you have come, because 
there is something I would like to say to you ; but I 
suppose that, like Tom, you yourself have some- 
thing very important to communicate, so I shall bid 
you go ahead with it.” 

Yes, father, there is something which I would 
particularly like to say to you. To-night, sir, I be- 


134 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


came a member of a certain club which I am very 
anxious that you should join/’ 

“ Now, my son, you know very well that I never 
cared for club life.” 

“ I don’t mean, father, that I want you to join one 
of those frivolous clubs, whose sole purpose is to 
idly waste time and money. Our club, though as 
yet a very unpretentious organization, has high 
purposes in view; and when its members meet it is 
solely in order to do something toward putting in 
practice those high purposes.” 

That is good. But what are the high purposes 
you speak of, my son? ” 

‘‘ The elevation of the lower classes.” 

‘‘ A noble purpose, my son. But in bringing this 
desired end about, what methods do you intend to 
use?” 

‘‘ To begin with, we propose to agitate for the do- 
ing away with all laws which sustain in their present 
undeserved positions of advantage the wealthy and 
privileged classes. We propose incidentally to do 
away with all such useless officials as Presidents and 
Kings. We ” 

Then you belong to a Socialistic club?” inter- 
rupted Alfred. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


135 


‘‘ We are called Socialists, sir; but although there 
are some who object to that title, we are proud of 

it.‘* 

Have you not embraced these views lately, my 
son? ’’ 

‘‘ I certainly arrived at the truth within a short 
time, sir; although for a long period, in fact ever 
since I began to approach years of discretion, I have 
been studying the matters which so nearly pertain 
to the happiness of mankind. I have arrived at the 
conclusion at which every fair-minded student of 
the subject must arrive. And you, sir, have declared 
yourself as belonging with us.’’ 

‘‘ What authority have you for saying that, 
Henry?” 

‘‘ Do not actions speak louder than words? And, 
sir, have you not time and time again raised up the 
weak, and rebuked those who would have trampled 
upon the unfortunate? Have you not expressed, 
even in words, your contempt for rulers who have 
used their positions for unjust ends ” 

“ Yes, my son; but there is all the difference in 
the world between a just and an unjust ruler. An 
enlightened and a chivalrous ruler has it in his 
power to do vast good among the people, whom in 


136 A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 

reality he serves. And this leads me, and in a very 
direct way, to the matter which I have to communi- 
cate to you. It is, I find, more than possible that the 
duty of ruling may fall upon myself and upon you. 
The surprise which you manifest at my statement is 
quite natural. I myself was greatly astonished at 
learning the facts which are thoroughly substanti- 
ated by these documents.’’ 

Alfred now laid before his son the statement of 
Janet Lamont. Then in turn the other documents 
which pertained to the same matter were placed be- 
fore Henry. The expression of the young man as 
he read these was grave and at times stern. When 
he had finished reading the last of the documents, 
he said : 

‘‘There seems to be little doubt but that we are de- 
scended from the Stuart Kings. But what of that? ” 

Alfred now told his son of the visit of his followers 
and of its immediate result; and he dwelt particu- 
larly upon the fact that it was the probable opportu- 
nities for doing vast good which had finally decided 
him to unfurl the Stuart standard. Henry listened 
to his father’s reasons for undertaking so momen- 
tous a step, and then, shaking his head in a decided 
manner, he replied : 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


137 


“ Your argument, in my mind, sir, does not war- 
rant you in claiming the throne — for the reason that 
such a thing as the right to a throne does not exist. 
It would be unwise to violate a great principle 
simply in the hope that this might result in the doing 
of some temporary good.’’ 

‘‘ Then, my son, I cannot rely upon you to stand 
with me in this great enterprise, and to continue the 
work in my stead when I shall have finished my 
share in it? ” 

Father,” replied the son, “ I cannot, either by 
thought, word, or deed, countenance the violation 
of a great principle. In fact it shall be my duty to op- 
pose your enterprise ” 

But how far,” interrupted Alfred, ‘‘ do you pro- 
pose to carry your opposition? Do you intend, for 
instance, to make of yourself a sort of a modern copy 
of the elder Brutus by sacrificing — not your son, but 
your father — in the defence of your principles? ” 

‘‘ Father, my opposition to your enterprise will 
be confined to words, which for the present will be 
addressed to no one but yourself. I shall regard your 
statements concerning this matter as having been 
given to me in confidence. Good-night, sir.” 
Henry bowed respectfully to his father and, leav- 


138 A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 

ing the room, made his way to his own little study, 
out of which opened his sleeping apartment. The 
young man was evidently in no mood for retiring; 
and for several hours he paced the floor, while he 
seemed lost in deep reflection. But the grave, and 
even stern expression, which he had maintained dur- 
ing the interview with his father, gradually gave 
way to a look of satisfaction. 

It was true that Henry’s devotion to the prin- 
ciples of his socialistic creed was genuine. As the 
young man himself believed, he would cheerfully 
have given his life in testimony of this devotion. 
But there was one particular in which his nature was 
not free from weakness. He had allowed to creep 
into his mind the reflection that he himself might 
some day pose before the world as the refuser of a 
crown. Hence his look of satisfaction. 


CHAPTER XIII. ' 


PREPARATIONS. 

The conference which had been agreed upon was 
held in Fitzpatrick’s oftice at the appointed time, and 
the members of the New York Council of Stuart 
sympathizers paid homage to their chief. The great 
deference which was shown to Alfred did not seem 
to make an impression upon him. He conducted 
himself with dignity; but it was clearly evident that 
neither the honors nor the emoluments of high posi- 
tion weighed anything in his mind. 

‘‘ Sir/’ said Fitzpatrick as he handed Alfred a 
paper. ‘‘ Here is a copy of the letter which goes, in 
cipher, by the steamer to-day. It informs the Grand 
Council of your position.” 

The letter met with the approval of Alfred, who 
inquired about the cipher which was being used in 
their correspondence. Fitzpatrick was about to pro- 
cure his copy of the cipher key when the office door 
opened and Fields, who had been on guard in the 
hallway, entered with a cable despatch which he 
139 


140 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


handed to Fitzpatrick. The latter opened the mes- 
sage, which was in cipher. He soon translated this, 
and a blaze seemed to appear in the eyes of the old 
gentleman as he comprehended the meaning of the 
despatch. 

‘‘ It is in reply to our despatch to the Grand Coun- 
cil sent yesterday,’’ he said, as he hastily wrote out 
the translated message, which read as follows : 

To your tents, O Israel.” 

Fitzpatrick handed the copy of the message to 
Alfred, who read it and then gave it to O’Farrell 
with the remark: 

‘‘ The Council has used the same quotation from 
Scriptures that an opponent of my ancestor, the first 
Charles, uttered with telling effect early in the Par- 
liamentary troubles.” 

‘‘ And you notice, sir, that the despatch is signed 
with the old Jacobite pass-word, ‘ L. I. M. P.’ ” 

So I observed,” replied Alfred. ‘‘ But the de- 
spatch seems to advise haste.” 

Yes; and hot haste at that! ” ejaculated O’Far- 
rell. 

The message was now being passed among the 
other members of the Council, with all of whom it 
seemed to make a decided impression. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


141 

“ The message ought to be answered at once/^ 
suggested Craig. 

O'Farrell nodded his head and then turning to 
Alfred said : 

'' Sir^ will you suggest some message to send the 
Grand Council in London which will be sufficiently 
hidden to escape the penetration of government 
agents who might possibly hit upon our cipher-key." 

Alfred took a pencil and a pad which had been 
offered him, and quickly wrote out the following 
message : 

“ Are prepared to fill your order immediately." 

‘‘ It is certainly to the point," said O’Farrell, as 
he handed the message to Fitzpatrick. 

The old gentleman quickly transformed the mes- 
sage into cipher and signing it P. Fitz P." directed 
it to George H. Barton in London, East, as he had 
done in the case of the cable message sent to the 
Grand Council on the previous day. One of the 
junior members of the Council undertook to file the 
message at the nearest English cable office at once. 

'' Our next work," said Fitzpatrick, ‘‘ will be to 
notify all of the branch Councils in the United States 
and Canada." 

'' Then it is your idea," said Alfred, '' to have the 


142 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


adherents of the cause in America express them- 
selves at the time that the great demonstrations are 
going on in Great Britain? ’’ 

''More than that/’ put in OTarrell. "We in- 
tend that all of the branch Councils shall send dele- 
gations to Great Britain to aid in the demonstrations 
that will restore to your family its rights.” 

" Will many go, do you think? ” 

" Every real British patriot who is in America to- 
day, but who can leave his family or his business for 
a short time, will be on the way to the land of his 
birth some time within the next fortnight, in the 
hope of being able to take some small part in the 
great upheaval.” 

" And do you think that there are many such 
patriots? ” 

" There will be enough of them to tax to their ut- 
most limits the passenger-carrying capacities of all 
of the steamships that will sail during that time for 
British ports.” 

" But with the plans for the restoration known to 
so many is there not danger that the agents of the 
present government may discover what is on foot? ” 

" In the first place great caution has been used in 
admitting members to the Councils. We have gone 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


143 


upon the theory that comparatively a few men of 
discretion could effect more than large numbers of 
people who were unable to control their tongues. 
Tongue service will lend no help to the cause at this 
stage of the game. And it is in fact but a small pro- 
portion of the Stuart adherents who know of the de- 
tails which prove your descent from Prince Charles 
Edward. Consequently should one of your partially 
informed followers in a moment of recklessness com- 
municate to an outsider the fact that he was on the 
way to England for the purpose of helping to place 
upon the throne a recently discovered Stuart Prince, 
his utterances would be regarded merely as insane 
vagaries.’’ 

‘‘ A great deal of clerical work will have to be 
done, and that very quickly, in communicating with 
the various branch Councils throughout the coun- 
try,” Fitzpatrick added. 

The old gentleman then produced a book which 
contained the addresses and the names of officers of 
all of the branch Councils in America. In the vicin- 
ity of the metropolis alone there were some fifty of 
these. 

The reports,” continued Fitzpatrick, which the 
New York Council, as the central body in America, 


144 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


receives from the branch Councils indicate that all 
of these have sufficient funds on hand for sending 
over to England such of their poorer members as 
vv^ould be available for the great enterprise/’ 

‘‘ And how will you notify the different branch 
Councils? ” 

‘‘We will telegraph to those which cannot be 
reached by mail within twenty-four hours. To tele- 
graph to all would be more likely to arouse suspicion 
than if we only telegraph to those at a considerable 
distance. Besides, by writing we can speak more 
fully to the branch Councils of the Eastern centres 
of population which would be likely to send the 
larger delegations to England.” 

“ Will the despatches and the letters to the branch 
Councils be sent in cipher? ” asked Alfred. 

“ The cipher used in the correspondence with the 
Grand Council has never been given to the branch 
Councils, which report to us in ordinary language, 
but usually take the precaution to make use of terms 
that would be apt to mislead one, not in our confi- 
dence, as to their real meaning. The despatch which 
we will send over the wires to the distant branch 
Councils will be one which will be readily under- 
stood by them.” Fitzpatrick wrote out a few words 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


M5 

upon a pad. '‘Here it is/’ handing the pad to 
Alfred. 

The message read as follows : 

“ The works you know of are about to open. Will 
find employment for all the men you can send us. 

" P. Fitz P.” 

" That will answer very well/’ said Alfred. " And 
what sort of a letter will you send to the branch 
Councils? ” 

The elderly adherent of the Stuart cause wrote 
out the following letter for his chief to inspect: 

" The new patent steam-derrick which was to be 
capable of lifting such tremendous weights will 
probably prove a success. There was some diffi- 
culty about procuring a king-post of the desired 
strength. But we have discovered the post we were 
looking for, and it proves to be fully capable of all 
that we had expected of it. We have just heard from 
our London agents, who advise us to ship the king- 
post to them at once. They will probably be able to set 
it up alone. But in order to insure success we will 
send them some help. We look to you to send all of 
your available men at once. See that they are all pro- 


lO 


146 A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 

vided with money for their expenses. The whole 
business of making the new derrick a grand success 
will undoubtedly be finished in less than one montlu 

P. Fitz P.’’ 

It will be perfectly clear to those for whom it is 
intended/' said Alfred. 

‘'We will send all of our available funds to the 
Grand Council at once/' said Fitzpatrick. “We 
have something in the neighborhood of fifty thou- 
sand pounds that has come in at different times from 
the branch Councils. The Grand Council has more 
than a million at its disposal already, and may not 
need our contribution." 

Members of the Council had volunteered to per- 
form the clerical work of preparing the letters and 
telegrams to be sent out to the various branch Coun- 
cils, and the office now began to assume a very busy 
scene. Alfred retired into a corner, from which he 
watched with interest the labors of his followers. 
Presently he saw the office-door open, and Carlin, 
still in the disguise which he had assumed after his 
narrow escape, entered the room. Alfred had recog- 
nized Carlin as one of the party which had waited 
upon him at his house, but it now impressed him 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


147 


that there was something familiar in the manner of 
the man. Carlin spoke to a member of the Council, 
and his voice seemed still more familiar to Alfred. 

“ I am convinced/’ thought the latter, that yon- 
der is the brand that I plucked from the burning.” 

Then walking over to the disguised secret agent 
Alfred placed a hand upon his shoulder and said : 

I believe that I had the pleasure of doing you a 
little favor early yesterday morning.” 

“ Sir, you saved my life,” replied the other. 

‘T did not refer to that,” said Alfred, with a slight 
blush ; “ what I referred to was my getting the box 
from your lodgings and taking it to you. You 
did not explain to me why you were persecuted by 
the fellows who seized you and, whether by accident 
or design, came so near putting you out of the. way.” 

The secret agent now set forth his theory in re- 
gard to his mysterious abduction. Alfred suggested 
that the work might possibly have been done by 
British agents who had in some way learned the 
nature of his mission; but he was finally convinced 
that the fellows had supposed that Carlin was ar- 
ranging for some dynamite outrage. 

O’Farrell presently asked his chief some ques- 
tion in regard to his sons. Alfred then explained the 


148 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


somewhat discouraging fact that his elder son 
Henry had developed a strong tendency toward 
socialism. 

“ I trust that he will overcome the heresy/' said 
O'Farrell. '‘But your younger son, Prince Thomas, 
has no such weakness? " 

Alfred then explained that Tom's weakness was of 
a very different character, and he told his follower 
what he knew about the case. 

“ Princes frequently love beneath their station," 
replied O'Farrell. “ But in most instances they 
have little trouble in recovering from the weakness. 
Let us trust that it will be the same way in the case 
of our young Prince." 

An hour later Alfred took leave of his followers. 
Several of the more enthusiastic of these were anx- 
ious to escort their chief to his home, but they loyally 
respected his expressed wish that they should not 
then tear themselves from their work. 

“ It is certainly unfortunate about Prince Henry," 
remarked O'Farrell to Craig after the departure of 
Alfred. “ Should he remain obstinate we may have 
to look to Thomas to take his place." 

“ And the youth's fondness for the young woman 
is awkward," said Craig. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


149 


“ A plan has just occurred to me, Craig, by which 
that little obstacle may be gotten out of the way/’ 

'' But, O’Farrell, remember that we play fair in 
this fight.” 

'' Oh, I don’t propose to have the young woman 
wronged in any way,” said O’Farrell. 

‘‘ What’s your plan? ” 

O’Farrell whispered something into the ear of 
Craig. The Scotchman indulged in a broad smile 
and asked : 

But do you think we can get any one — I mean 
of the right sort — to sacrifice himself? ” 

I know of a man who will make the sacrifice in 
behalf of the cause,” said O’Farrell. 

‘‘Who is he?” 

“ Augustus Barlow.” 

“ Then put Barlow upon the altar — right away! ** 


CHAPTER XIV. 


MR. BARLOW. 

Early in the evening of the third day after the con- 
ference in Fitzpatrick’s office Alfred sat in his 
library. Before him was a book which contained 
accurate reports of the condition of the toiling 
classes of Great Britain. 

What a vast field for the elevation of the lowly/’ 
he thought. ‘‘ Henry should see this. If he is in I 
will show him some facts.” 

Alfred went to the door of Henry’s study and 
knocked. There was no reply. As the father 
turned to retrace his steps he saw the door of his 
younger son’s room open. Tom now appeared, 
dressed with great care and bearing in his hands a 
package that evidently contained flowers. Alfred 
nodded pleasantly, to which salutation the young 
man replied in rather an embarrassed manner. 

A moment later Tom emerged from the house. 
He made his way quickly to the nearest elevated 
150 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


151 

railway station. The first train for down town which 
drew up at this station was densely crowded. Tom 
did not board this train. 

“ I would be sure to crush the flowers in that 
crowd,” he thought, '' and Bessie might find fault 
with me for not being careful.” 

The next train to draw up at the station was far 
from crowded, and into this Tom ventured with the 
precious flowers. At the Forty-second Street sta- 
tion Tom succeeded in landing safely from the train 
the fragrant present which he designed for Bessie 
Simpson. The youth made his way from the station 
to the house in West Thirty-eighth Street to which 
Carlin had followed him on the evening of the 
former’s great adventure. Tom rang the third floor 
bell and the door opened for him. As he ascended 
the stairs this thought was in his mind : 

‘'Now, I hope Bessie is in her good-humor to- 
night.” 

Upon reaching the third floor a door opened and 
a middle-aged woman, with a careworn look on her 
sharp features, looked out at him. 

“Oh, it’s you, Tom,” she said, in a tone that 
seemed to indicate disappointment. 

“It is, ma’am. And how is Mr. Simpson to-day?” 


152 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


“ My husband is about as usual/' she replied with 
a sigh. 

And Bessie?" 

‘‘ Oh, you'll find her in the parlor, though I don't 
think she was looking for you to-night." 

Tom entered the private hall- way, and a few steps 
sufficed to bring him to the parlor. Here he found 
Bessie Simpson reclining in an easy chair and read- 
ing a novel. The girl glanced up at Tom and a 
shade of annoyance passed over her pretty but baby- 
ish face. 

‘‘ You didn't tell me you were coming to-night, 
Tom," she said. 

‘'No, Bessie, I had expected to have a talk with 
my father to-night, but — I — I changed my 
mind." 

Bessie tossed her novel aside and looked critically 
at Tom. Then her eyes fell upon the package which 
he had brought there with so much care. 

"Flowers?" she asked with ingenuous brevity. 

" Yes, Bessie," he replied as he removed the 
paper from his floral gift. " Now what do you think 
of these? " 

She reached out her hand and taking the flowers 
held them up to her face. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


153 


“ What do you think of them, Bessie? he again 
asked. 

“ Oh, pretty good,'' was the reply in a tone which 
lacked any suggestion of enthusiasm. 

Tom now seated himself. There was a look of 
disappointment in his face while he watched Bessie 
as she toyed with the flowers. 

It's very plain," he thought, ‘‘ that she isn't in 
her good-humor to-night." 

At length the girl’s face suddenly brightened up 
and she said: 

“ Oh, Tom, you remember my telling you a])OUt 
the new family that has moved into the apartments 
below us? " 

‘‘Yes,” said the young man, eagerly. He was ac- 
customed, when she was out of sorts, to hail with 
delight any indication of an approach of “her good- 
humor." 

“ Well, they are perfectly killing! And the girl — 
if you want to see a perfect fright you want to see 
that girl." 

Bessie then proceeded in an animated manner to 
give a list of the peculiarities of the family inhabiting 
the floor beneath, and she also dwelt at length upon 
the positive poverty of ornamental qualities with 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


IS4 

which the young woman of that family seemed to 
have been cursed. Tom did not follow the words of 
Bessie very closely, but he did observe her expres- 
sion and her manner with much care and even with 
minuteness. 

Apparently he was pleased with the result of these 
observations, for his face became very cheerful, and 
he gradually drew his chair toward the one that 
Bessie occupied. When she had completed her re- 
marks concerning the family on the floor below, 
Tom's chair and Bessie's chair were side by side. 
The girl now made a few general remarks in a light 
vein; and she took occasion to accent and punctuate 
several of her sayings by means of certain grimaces 
which she had evidently practised before her mirror. 
In the meantime Tom gazed at her with a rapture 
such as that with which a zealous heathen would 
honor a brand-new family idol. Presently the young 
man became carried away by his admiration, and 
possibly without realizing what he was doing, he 
placed his arm around Bessie and gave her an inno- 
cent squeeze. But he instantly realized that in doing 
this he had been too precipitate. 

''Now you stop that, Mr. Martel!" said Bessie 
in an angry tone, as she pushed his arm from her. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


155 


Haven't I often told you that sort of thing is com- 
mon? " 

With a sheepish look Tom drew his chair a few 
inches away from hers. But while he remained out- 
wardly silent much was going on in his mind. 

Why is it," he thought, “ that the very times 
when I am most in the humor for putting my arm 
around her, are the times when she thinks that sort 
of thing is common." 

Besides," continued Bessie, you would be sure 
to crush these beautiful flowers." 

Fm glad she finally does admit they are beauti- 
ful! " thought Tom. But he did not deem it wise to 
say this to her. 

What a fool you are, Tom, to spend your money 
for flowers, and then go and crush them." 

I only attempted to crush them, Bessie." 

‘‘Well, you have me to thank for the fact that 
you didn't succeed," was the aggravating reply. 

Tom proceeded to maintain a painful silence. 
Bessie now undertook to lower her lover to a still 
greater depth of unhappiness by laying down the 
flowers and picking up her recently discarded novel, 
the perusal of which she resumed with a show of in- 
tense interest. Presently she appeared to have come 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


156 

upon some very amusing passages, for she burst 
forth into a silvery laugh. A moment later the ex- 
pression of Bessie’s countenance seemed to indicate 
that the heroine was suffering from temporary an- 
guish of some description. How the sympathetic 
heart of the pretty reader seemed to ache for the 
poor heroine. And how poor Tom wished that she 
would save for him a little of that sympathy which 
she was giving away so freely. At length it oc- 
curred to the young man that possibly Bessie 
might have become put out at his failure to 
secure from his father capital with which to go 
into business. 

‘"Bessie,” he said, in a somewhat plaintive tone, 
“ I certainly have done my best to induce my father 
to set me up in business. He may yet let me have 
the money I want; but if he should not it will be no 
fault of mine: for you know perfectly well that I 
would hesitate at nothing to be of service to your 
family.” 

Bessie now glanced up from her novel in an in- 
quiring way and said : 

“ Excuse me, Tom, but I will have to ask you to 
repeat what you just said. I wasn’t listening.” 

“ I was explaining, Bessie, that it wouldn’t be my 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


157 


fault if my father should finally refuse to let me have 
money to go in business with.” 

The young w^oman assumed an air of perplexity 
and asked: 

But tell me, Tom, why is it that you are so anx- 
ious to go into business? ” 

” Why, Bessie,” in a tone of mingled surprise and 
reproach, don't you know the reason why I want 
to set up in business? ” 

“ I certainly do not, Tom.” 

'' I thought I had explained to you that if I were 
doing at all well I could marry you, and your father 
and mother could live wdth us, which would cer- 
tainly relieve them of a great deal of annoyance — to 
say the least.” 

^‘Oh, don't bother about that,” said the girl, in a 
patronizing tone. '' Father and mother will manage 
to get along somehow. It's very kind of you, I 
know; but I would prefer that you shouldn't think 
of making any such sacrifice.” 

‘‘Sacrifice — Bessie! You can't mean the word 
sacrifice when you know how happy we would be on 
a snug little income.” 

Bessie made a wry face as she replied : 

“ Don't say snug in connection with the word in- 


come. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


158 

Then it seemed as if something were dawning 
upon the mind of Tom. He turned first very white 
and then very red as he asked : 

'' Have you been making the acquaintance of any 
gentleman since I was here last? ’’ 

Bessie glanced down at the carpet in an embar- 
rassed manner, while Tom gazed at her with an ex- 
pression of painful apprehension. 

Bessie, why don't you answer me? " 

The girl seemed about to make some reply when 
the door of the dining-room suddenly opened, and 
Mrs. Simpson appeared in a state of great agita- 
tion. 

“ Bessie," exclaimed the matron in an excited 
whisper, Mr. Barlow is here! " 

Bessie sprang to her feet and dropping her novel 
ran to the mirror and began hastily to arrange her 
hair and her dress. As she was thus engaged her eye 
caught the reflection of Tom, who had risen to his 
feet and was looking reproachfully toward her. 
Bessie turned and met her mother's glance. The 
pair seemed to realize that the presence of the young 
man was an awkward circumstance. 

Mother/' said Bessie in a significant tone, ** I 
leave it all to you." 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


159 

Then the girl turned to the glass and resumed the 
hasty arrangement of her hair and dress. 

Tom/' said Mrs. Simpson, placing her hand 
upon his shoulder, we will have to ask you to leave 
now, because an old gentleman is here who is — is 
very bashful, and the presence of — of a stranger like 
yourself would be sure to embarrass him." 

Well, Mrs. Simpson, he need fear no annoyance 
from me," said Tom, somewhat haughtily. Then 
again turning to Bessie in a pleading manner: Tell 
me, Bessie, when I am to see you again." 

Without turning around the girl replied: 

Oh, in a few days, I suppose." 

Say the day after to-morrow? " 

** ril write you when it will be convenient for me 
to see you again." 

^‘And will you write me soon, Bessie?" 

“ Yes, yes; I suppose so." 

It was in a fretful tone that the girl made the last 
reply. 

‘‘ Come, Tom," whispered Mrs. Simpson, as she 
pushed the young man toward the dining-room 
door. You must go round by way of the kitchen, 
so as to avoid our visitor, who is in the private hall." 

Tom directed an appealing glance at Bessie, as 


i6o A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 

if to ask her to mitigate by some kind word or look 
the misery of his summary banishment from her 
presence. The girl saw in the glass the reflection of 
Tom's appealing look, but to this she paid no heed. 
With a deep sigh the young man turned and passed 
into the little dining-room of the Simpsons. He was 
about to enter the kitchen, in order to reach from the 
latter room the outer hall-way, when he heard Bessie 
exclaim, in her most enchanting tones: 

‘‘ Why, Mr. Barlow, how delighted I am to see 
you!" 

Tom could not resist the temptation to glance 
through the partially open door that led into the 
parlor. There he beheld a little tableau which 
caused him deep pain. Bessie's hand was resting in 
that of an elderly gentleman, whose face was beam- 
ing with admiration for her. Only a small portion 
of her face was in view; but there was something 
about her manner which indicated that she was be- 
stowing upon the gentleman one of her most allur- 
ing smiles. And in the background of the picture 
hovered Mrs. Simpson, with the sharpness of her 
features somewhat subdued in the symmetry of a 
smile that occupied her entire face. There could be 
no doubt but that the matron really experienced all 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. i6i 

of the joy which her look expressed. Tom uttered 
a low groan and turning from the sight that was so 
painful to him, he hurried from the room and from 
the house. 


CHAPTER XV. 
tom's holiday. 

For several hours after leaving the home of the 
Simpsons, Tom wandered aimlessly about the 
streets. Anger toward the man whom he believed 
had supplanted him alternated with feelings of 
lingering tenderness for Bessie. 

That look of Mrs. Simpson convinces me,’’ he 
thought, that she is striving to make Bessie be- 
come false to me. And how different she used to act 
toward me. Why, my attentions to her daughter 
used to delight her. What can have come over Mrs. 
Simpson? ’’ 

Then there occurred to the unhappy lover this 
very simple explanation of the change in Mrs. Simp- 
son: 

‘‘ That fellow Barlow may be rich — why — of 
course he is rich, or else Mrs. Simpson wouldn’t 
turn me out of her parlor in order to make room for 
him. But perhaps, after all, Bessie’s eyes won’t be 
162 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 163 

dazzled by his gold — she may be true to her love for 
me.” 

The young man now remembered the manner in 
which Bessie had received Mr. Barlow, and this had 
certainly seemed to indicate that the girl possessed 
an eye that was as susceptible to the glitter of gold 
as was that of her mother. 

“ It is shocking to think that Mrs. Simpson is so 
mercenary,” he thought, with a feeling of anger. 
Then in a much milder vein be continued: And I 
am very much surprised at Bessie's having listened 
to her mother, as she seems to have done.” 

Now Tom was fully alive to the fact that the 
Simpsons were most unfortunately situated, owing 
to the recent failure; and he had good reasons for 
believing that there was little chance of he himself 
being able to assist them in their financial straits. 
And yet it did not occur to the young man that the 
distresses of the family could be pleaded in extenua- 
tion of the mercenary conduct of Mrs. Simpson. 

When finally Tom wearied of the wanderings 
which had failed to relieve his perturbed brain he 
turned toward home. It seemed to him as if there 
was actually a sore feeling around his heart as he 
sank down into his easy chair. There was no sleep 


164 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


for Tom during that long dismal night. When the 
morning broke bright and clear the young man went 
out into the streets, and he found that walking gave 
some rest to the tired body which had been well- 
nigh exhausted in the feverish tossings of the night. 
During his walk it occurred to Tom that he might 
be able to bear his unhappiness with a better spirit 
if he should leave his accustomed walks and take a 
run into the country, 

'' There’s that quiet little hotel at Strongville,” he 
thought. '' It’s not more than two hours’ ride from 
New York, and Mrs. Glover can telegraph me in 
case a letter from Bessie should come to the house.” 

Upon returning home Tom was informed by Mrs. 
Glover, the housekeeper, that his father and his 
brother had both gone out. The young man went 
through the form of disposing of his breakfast, and 
then going to his room wrote a note which he ad- 
dressed to his father, and in which he gave what 
purported to be an explanation of his sudden de- 
parture from the city. He next wrote out the ad- 
dress of the hotel in Strongville at which he pro- 
posed to put up during his absence from the city. 
Then he hastily flung into a bag a few articles of use. 
His next move was something in the romantic line: 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 165 

he proceeded to undo the upper portion of his cloth- 
ing until he found himself able to arrive at the imme- 
diate vicinity of his heart. From this point he re- 
moved a small package done up in a soft piece of 
cloth. The package proved to contain a letter ad- 
dressed to Tom in a feminine hand. He kissed the 
envelope a few times, and then removing the letter 
started to read this. He had nearly reached the bot- 
tom of the first page when he uttered something 
which suggested a sob. Then he did up the letter in 
the cloth, but left the envelope out. He next placed 
the package in its former position of safety. 

“ It seems hardly possible,'' he thought, that 
Bessie could write me the way she did in this letter, 
and yet treat me the way she did last night." 

Descending to the basement Tom left with Mrs. 
Glover the note for his father together with the 
Strongville address. Then with very great caution, 
as if he was handling something as fragile as it were 
priceless, he placed in the housekeeper's hands the 
envelope that had contained Bessie Simpson's letter. 

If any letter should come to me addressed in this 
handwriting," said Tom in the tone of one who is 
making a communication of vast importance, '' I 
wish you would immediately telegraph me." 


i66 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


What shall I say in the message, sir? 

‘‘You need only say: ‘The letter you want has 
come/ 

“ I can remember that,’’ said Mrs. Glover, after 
she had repeated the message over a few times. 

“ Be sure and telegraph me the instant you get 
the letter. Any delay might result in a great deal of 
unhappiness.” 

“ There will be no delay, sir. How about any 
other letters that may come to you. Shall I direct 
them to you at Strongville and give them back to the 
postman? ” 

“ Oh, as to any other mail,” said the young man 
in a tone of great indifference, “ you might have it 
sent on to me.” 

“ Mr. Tom,” the housekeeper now said in an 
earnest tone, “ I want to ask you — what is it that’s 
going on? ” 

“ Going on — what do you mean, Mrs. Glover? ” 

“ I mean that there’s something most tremen- 
dously out of the usual going on. There’s no end of 
people corning here to see your father. And there 
used to be scarcely a visitor here from one year’s end 
to the other. And then the way these people that 
come here treat your father.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


167 


‘‘ Why, arn't they respectful to my father? ’’ 

Respectful, Mr. Tom, ain’t no word for it. Why, 
they regularly bow down before him. And then 
your father and your brother are having long talks 
together. But the strangest of that is that they seem 
to have changed places. Your brother Henry is aw- 
ful stern to your father, while your father seems to 
be trying to talk your brother into something. 
Generally it’s the father that is stern and the son that 
tries to do the talking around. And then something 
or other seems to be up with you, Mr. Tom. You 
seem to be dreadfully worried about some matter; 
and then you go and rush out of town all of a sud- 
den. I wonder if it’s the same thing that’s upset you 
that has changed your father and Mr. Henry, and 
that sends all those crowds of men to this house.” 

I don’t think, Mrs. Glover, that there’s anything 
at all important in the talks between my father and 
my brother, nor in the fact that my father has vis- 
itors. It is some ordinary, common-place matter 
that brings the people to see my father, and it is 
some ordinary, common-place subject that my 
father and Henry are discussing. Yet I will admit, 
Mrs. Glover, that something very much out of the 
ordinary has happened to me. But I don’t feel at 


i68 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


liberty now to say what it is. Some day, however, 
I may take you into my confidence. But for the pres- 
ent, I can only tell you that a vast deal depends upon 
your telegraphing to me at once when the letter I 
spoke of is delivered here.’’ 

The housekeeper was left in a state of tremulous 
excitement owing to a realization of the vast but 
mysterious responsibility which had been thrust 
upon her, while Tom, heaving a series of profound 
sighs, started upon his journey. The young man 
was in a melancholy frame of mind when he alighted 
from the cars at the Strongville station. He failed 
to admire the picturesque features of the beautiful 
little village as he made his way to the hotel. Upon 
reaching the old-fashioned little hostlery, which was 
one of the landmarks of the place, he requested the 
landlord to assign him a certain corner room which 
commanded an excellent view of the street leading 
to the depot. This request was readily granted by 
the obliging host. 

After taking possession of his room Tom pro- 
ceeded to post himself at the window. He looked 
up the street in the direction of the depot and care- 
fully scanned the people who were coming toward 
the hotel. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


169 


“ It is possible/’ he thought, '' that Bessie may 
have written me last night after that Barlow left, 
and she may have got up early this morning to post 
the letter, and it may have been left at the house 
with the noon delivery, and Mrs. Glover may have 
telegraphed me, and ” 

But there was no one approaching from the depot 
who would be at all likely to be the bearer of a tele- 
gram for Tom. Then it occurred to him that there 
might possibly be in the village some telegraph of- 
fice other than the one in the depot. He hurried 
down into the hotel office and asked the landlord if 
there was a second telegraph-office in the place. 

The only one is in the depot,” was the reply. 

Tom returned to his room and resumed his vigil. 
During the afternoon a youth, wearing a portion of 
the uniform of a messenger, was seen coming down 
the street. Tom’s heart began to beat rapidly; but 
this organ soon dropped down to its normal rate of 
speed; for the messenger passed the hotel without 
even glancing at it. Toward evening Tom went 
down to the depot and giving his name to the tele- 
graph operator requested that official to have any 
despatch for himself sent to the hotel at once. The 
operator glanced up from his work and said: 


170 A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 

'' All despatches received at this office are de- 
livered at once. And if we don’t happen to recog- 
nize the name of a person to whom a dispatch is ad- 
dressed we send it to the hotel in the hope that we 
may find him there. You can rest easy, sir, you will 
get your despatch — provided that it reaches this 
office.” 

Tom received this information with much satis- 
faction. He was not annoyed at the implied rebuke, 
since this was accompanied by the assurance that his 
expected despatch would meet with no delay in 
Strongville. The young man returned to the hotel 
and passed the remainder of the day in vainly watch- 
ing and waiting for the arrival of a message from 
Mrs. Glover. Before retiring for the night Tom 
wrote a note, but it was not addressed to Bessie 
Simpson. Dearly as he still loved that girl, he had 
resolved to manifest his displeasure at her unkind 
treatment of himself by maintaining a postal silence 
until after he should have heard from her. The let- 
ter which he now wrote was directed to Mrs. Glover, 
and it contained nothing, aside from the date, ad- 
dress, and signature, except the following informa- 
tion and admonition. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


171 

‘‘ You could not find a lovelier place to visit for a 
few days than Strongville is. There are such beauti- 
ful little houses, and the hotel is such a nice old 
place. My room commands a splendid view of the 
main street as far as the depot. The weather is de- 
lightful. Don't forget to telegraph me immediately the 
instant yon receive the letter I told you I was expecting.'* 

During the four days which followed Tom occu- 
pied himself in watching anxiously for the arrival of 
the expected despatch from Mrs. Glover. Each 
night he retired in a state of restlessness and de- 
spondency. Each morning he arose weary but 
hopeful. On the fifth day, when he went down for 
the mid-day meal, he found at his place on the table 
a letter and a newspaper, which had just arrived by 
the New York mail. He recognized in the direction 
of the letter the handwriting of Mrs. Glover. He 
tore open the envelope and found that the house- 
keeper had in writing to him used his note of a few 
days before as her model. The following is what 
she had to say to dear Mr. Tom : ’’ 

I am glad you have found such a lovely place as 
Strongville to spend a few days in. How you must 


172 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


enjoy looking at the beautiful little houses, and then 
the hotel must be such a nice old place. How for- 
tunate that your room commands such a splendid 
view of the main street as far as the depot. I am 
glad that you have found the weather delightful. 
/ ceriainly shall not forget to telegraph you immediately 
the moment I receive the letter you are expecting'' 

'' It is surprising,’’ thought Tom, ‘‘ that Bessie has 
not yet written — still, she might have written, and 
the letter might have gone astray.” 

He now turned his attention to the newspaper, 
which had been originally sent to his father’s house 
and had been re-mailed to him at Strongville. He 
failed to recognize the handwriting in which it had 
been directed. Tearing open the wrapper he found 
that the newspaper was a copy of the Evening Globe, 
Several heavily marked lines attracted his attention, 
and he found that these had been placed around a 
certain paragraph near the bottom of a column 
which was headed: ” In the Social Swim.” There 
was in this paragraph a name that had caught his 
attention. With trembling hands he brought the 
newspaper close to his eyes. Then with a strong 
effort to conceal his agitation from the other persons 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


173 


in the room he read the marked paragraph, which 
ran as follows : 

Rumor has it that Augustus Barlow, Esq., the 
wealthy retired glass manufacturer, has resolved to 
cut loose from the habit of bachelorhood to which 
he has so long been addicted. The fortunate young 
lady is Miss Bessie Simpson, of No. — West Thirty- 
eighth Street. The young lady has not been much 
in society, but she is said to be a great beauty. 
Rumor, our authority for the above statements, in- 
forms us that the nuptials will be speedily celebrated, 
as the happy groom has some important matters to 
attend to at or near his old home in the County of 
Hampshire, England.'' 

Tom read and re-read the paragraph until its 
words had indelibly stamped themselves upon his 
memory. Then he deliberately folded up the news- 
paper and endeavored to turn his attention to the 
dinner. He had given up the task of eating as a 
hopeless one and had arisen from the table, when he 
saw the landlord enter the room with a telegram in 
his hand. 

‘‘ Mr. Martel," said the host, the messenger 


174 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


boy has just brought this telegram for you. There 
are no charges.” 

Tom hurriedly opened the telegram, which was 
dated in New York that day and was signed, ‘‘ Eva 
Glover.” It contained these words: 

The letter you want has come.” 

There now entered the mind of Tom a desperate 
hope. 

‘‘That paragraph in the Globe'' he thought, “may 
be false. It only represented the engagement as a 
rumor. And Bessie may tell me in this letter at 
home that she has sent away that ancient glass- 
blower, and that she longs to see me once more.” 

With a flushed cheek the young man hurried to 
his room and packed his limited luggage. He found 
upon glancing at his watch that he had but a few 
minutes in which to catch the early afternoon train 
for New York. Quickly paying his hotel bill, he 
created something of a sensation in the little village 
by rushing up the street at full speed. He succeeded 
in catching his train, and some two hours later he 
landed in New York. He then lost no time in reach- 
ing his father’s house. At the door he was met by 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


175 


the housekeeper, who appeared to be in a state of 
great excitement. 

‘‘ You should have been here an hour ago/’ she 
said. Your brother Henry started for out West. 
He’s to be gone on some business for a month. 
But he and your father didn’t seem to part just right. 
And then a big crowd of gentlemen came to see 
your father, and he went away with them. I tell 
you, Mr. Tom, something great is on foot! ” 

‘‘ Nonsense,” replied the young man. Don’t 
talk about that. What I want to know is — where is 
the letter? ” 


CHAPTER XVL 

THE EXODUS. 

Upon being reminded by Tom of the letter for 
which he had come to New York, Mrs. Glover took 
from her pocket, first the envelope that had been left 
in her care, and then a letter directed to Thomas 
Martel, Esq.'’ 

You see," she remarked as she handed these to 
Tom, ‘^that the handwriting is the same on both: 
so that I can't have made any mistake." 

Yes," replied Tom, /' it is the letter I expected. 
Thank you, Mrs. Glover." 

The young man hurried up to his room and then 
with trembling fingers he took a penknife and care- 
fully cut open the letter. He found this quite brief, 
but it instantly expelled from his breast his recently 
formed hopes. The letter was dated the same morn- 
ing and was addressed to " Dear Mr. Martel." It 
contained the following lines: 

176 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


177 


My mother bids me inform you that circum- 
stances have arisen which must put an end to our 
acquaintance. Though respecting you very much 
there was something which all along told me that I 
could never really love you. But I have at last met 
one whom I dearly, truly, and fully love. The one 
who has my heart is very shortly to become my 
husband. Though there is some disparity in our 
ages, our tastes harmonize wonderfully; and we 
shall be very happy. Such of your letters as I have 
preserved, together with your presents, will shortly 
be returned to you by messenger. Very truly, 

‘‘Bessie Simpson.** 

There was nothing in this brief letter that indi- 
cated the presence in the mind of Miss Simpson of 
a single grain of sympathy for the youth. 

After the unhappy lover had partially recovered 
from the first transports of grief, which had followed 
the reading of the unfeeling letter from his former 
sweetheart, he left the house and wandered in the di- 
rection of the North River. Soon he found himself 
upon the beautiful Riverside Drive. Along this tho- 
roughfare he paced for hours, lost in his unhappy 
reflections. It was late in the evening when, almost 


12 


1 78 A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 

exhausted, the young man returned to his home. 
During the early portion of the night he tossed rest- 
lessly about. 

Of what took place during the five or six days 
which followed Tom never had any clear recollec- 
tion. Many of the things which he fancied as occur- 
ring were undoubtedly the vagaries of a mind 
temporarily disordered through the fierce burnings 
of the fever that well-nigh consumed his life. But 
among the swift siftings of the strange scenes 
through which during his delirium he wandered, he 
frequently saw close to him a face which he was 
afterwards convinced must have been real. It was a 
dark, manly face with large deep-set eyes, which 
shone with a soft, kindly light. 

When at length the chaos born of disease retired 
from Tom’s brain and he came to himself, he saw 
seated near the bedside his father. Just then Mrs. 
Glover entered the room and informed Alfred that 
two gentlemen had called and were waiting for him 
below. 

While you are with them, sir,” said the house- 
keeper, I will watch the patient.” 

Alfred then descended to the parlor where he 
found Fitzpatrick and Carlin. The face of the 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


179 


former was flushed with excitement. He bowed to 
his chief and said : 

Sir, the Altruria is sighted! ’’ 

“ Then, Fitzpatrick, we will undoubtedly receive 
within a few hours the letter from the Grand Council. 
It will certainly contain advice as to the exact time 
of my starting for England.’’ 

Yes; and I think that I can congratulate you 
upon your son being out of danger. I now read 
that much in your looks.” 

‘‘And you read aright,” replied Alfred, with a 
smile. “By the way,” he continued, turning to Car- 
lin, “ have you yet secured the missing cipher letter 
which you were upon the track of? ” 

“ No,” replied the secret agent. “ I thought that 
I had it within my reach twice, but I have not yet 
succeeded in securing it. And I feel somewhat 
worried about the matter.” 

“ There is really no occasion for your uneasiness, 
Carlin,” put in Fitzpatrick. “ They won’t get at the 
meaning of the letter without the key. And to-day’s 
mail will undoubtedly contain a copy of the missing 
letter: for we had written the Grand Council about 
its loss.” 

Fitzpatrick now produced several newspaper clip- 


i8o 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


pings which he read to Alfred. These extracts from 
the daily press dwelt upon the recent unprecedented 
impetus in the passenger business of the steamship 
lines running to Great Britain. The fact was re- 
corded that all of the berths on the outgoing English 
steamships were being taken days ahead of the sail- 
ing time. The rush was by no means confined to the 
saloons and second cabins of the vessels. There was 
also a demand for all of the steerage room that could 
be spared. And in order to make space for the third- 
class passengers the steamship agents had been 
obliged to refuse freight which these vessels had 
been expected to carry. The newspapers had ad- 
vanced a number of ingenious theories, each one of 
which would seem to account for the great rush on 
the steamships bound for England. But none of 
these theories came near the truth. Evidently the 
leaders of the Stuart movement had worked with 
great discretion: for the press seemed to have no 
suspicion that the departing crowds were going to 
England in the expectation of helping to bring 
about a second restoration. After Alfred had fin- 
ished reading the newspaper extracts Fitzpatrick 
told him of the fact that the mail steamship Utopia 
was shortly to leave her dock for Liverpool, carry- 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


i8i 


ing out more than four hundred adherents of the 
Stuart cause. 

We will have time to witness their departure/^ 
said the old gentleman glancing at his watch. And 
it would be a sight, sir, which you would enjoy.’’ 

And I will witness it,” said Alfred. That is if I 
can induce my housekeeper to play the nurse for our 
patient for an hour or so.” 

Half an hour later Alfred, accompanied by Fitz- 
patrick and Carlin, reached the wharf at which the 
Utopia was moored. The decks of the vessel were 
crowded with people; while a great throng stood 
upon the wharf. The bell warning visitors to go 
ashore now sounded. The signal had the effect 
of immediately separating the crowd upon the 
steamer’s decks. The passengers either took ad- 
vantageous places for observation at the deck rail- 
ings or else went below; while the visitors poured 
toward the gang-planks and jostled against each 
other in their eagerness to get ashore. 

Alfred carefully scanned the faces of those who 
appeared to be the passengers. There were a num- 
ber whom he supposed were going abroad either for 
pleasure or upon business of their own. But these 
were largely outnumbered by another class, which 


i 82 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


consisted of men with earnest faces. They seemed 
to realize that it was a serious purpose which was to 
take them across the ocean. Presently the gang- 
planks were unlashed preparatory to being swung 
ashore. One of these had already been cast off 
when a cab drove swiftly down the wharf. When 
the door of the cab had been opened an elderly gen- 
tleman stepped out and quickly aided a lady to 
alight. She was evidently quite young, and also 
pretty, although a thick veil partially obscured her 
face. He pointed out some hand luggage in the cab 
to one of the employees of the steamship company, 
and then, seizing the arm of the lady, he hurried her 
before him up the only gang-plank which still con- 
nected the Utopia with the wharf. 

‘‘ That gentleman is one of your adherents/' Fitz- 
patrick whispered to Alfred as the elderly person- 
age and his companion reached the deck of the 
steamship. He is a wealthy retired manufacturer 
named Barlow." 

And I presume that the lady with him is his 
bride?" 

‘‘Yes; they were married only this morning." 

“ He seems to be very much devoted to his wife — 
even for a bridegroom," said Alfred, 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 183 

‘‘ And he is as fully devoted to the cause. At first 
sight his taking this time for his honeymoon would 
seem to indicate that he was dividing his allegiance. 
But the truth is — a peculiar smile played around 
the corners of Fitzpatrick's mouth as he said this — 
that Augustus Barlow has given proof of the fact 
that there is no danger at which he will halt in order 
to show his devotion to the cause." 

The last gang-plank had now been swung ashore, 
and the mooring lines were cast off. Then as the 
great whistles warned pilots out in the stream that 
the steamship was about to commence her journey, 
the crowd made a rush toward the end of the wharf. 
Alfred and his two companions were carried with 
the tide. They reached the great open door-way at 
the end of the wharf-shed in time to see the stately 
Utopia glide in a majestic manner out into the 
stream. A loud cheer went up from the spectators, 
which was answered by a portion of the passengers 
who waved hats or handkerchiefs and smiled and 
gesticulated. Some of them called out to friends 
ashore words of parting which were drowned in 
the general clamor. 

But in none of these demonstrations among the 
passengers did the Stuart adherents take part. The 


i 84 a prince of THE BLOOD. 

latter, with a few exceptions, had separated them- 
selves from their fellow-voyagers — those who sailed 
in the cabin stood in a body upon the upper deck, 
while their comrades of the steerage were grouped 
upon the deck below. As they stood with grave, 
determined faces and watched the apparently reced- 
ing wharf they suggested to Alfred two phalanxes 
of brave men who were calmly awaiting the ap- 
proach of the enemy. 

This is the scene,^’ whispered Fitzpatrick to his 
chief, that every outgoing English steamship pre- 
sents. They are the sort of men that are going to 
help in fanning the flame of enthusiasm which will 
sweep over the British islands, and will assure the 
accomplishment of a mighty act of justice! ” 

A keen observer would have detected a momen- 
tary blaze in the deep-set eyes of Alfred as he 
listened to these words of his elderly follower. As 
the Utopia sped down the stream she passed a 
large incoming vessel which was proceeding to her 
wharf. 

'' That is the Altruria coming up the stream,'' said 
Carlin. 

Then we will have our expected letter sooner 
than I had anticipated," said Fitzpatrick. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 185 

Do you look for the letter by mail or by a mes- 
senger? asked Alfred. 

Fitzpatrick glanced at Carlin as if to invite from 
him the reply. It came as follows: 

“ It is more than likely that one of the stewards on 
the Altruria has the letter. I had better wait here in 
order to see if my conjecture proves to be right.” 

‘‘ You will find us,” said Fitzpatrick, “ at the of- 
fice.” 

While the secret agent remained on the wharf in 
order to meet the incoming steamship, Alfred and 
Fitzpatrick proceeded to the latter’s office. Upon 
their arrival there the old gentleman produced a 
book which contained lists of the Stuart followers 
who had already sailed for England. After going 
over some of these hastily Alfred listened to Fitz- 
patrick’s estimates as to the numbers which would 
be likely to follow within the succeeding week. 
While they were still engaged with these estimates 
Carlin entered the office. 

“ I was right about the letter,” he said, as he pro- 
duced an envelope addressed to “ Patrick Fitzpat- 
rick, Esq. ; ” this came by one of the stewards of 
the Altruria.” 

Fitzpatrick tore open the envelope and found a 


i86 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


letter in cipher. This he quickly translated. The 
letter was signed “ L. I. M. P./’ and the translation 
which Fitzpatrick wrote out for the inspection of his 
chief read as follows : 

‘‘ The Grand Council has communicated with all 
of the organizations throughout the British Islands, 
and the answers received from these are very en- 
couraging. That our cause is about to triumph is a 
foregone conclusion. Our arrangements are com- 
plete for the great demonstrations that are to follow 
the publication of the facts which substantiate the 
claims of our Prince to the throne. The men who 
are coming from America will hardly be required. 
Still it is well that they are coming, as their presence 
may add to the completeness of the triumph. The 
Prince should start at once. But in this matter we 
would advise a little caution. It is barely possible 
that the enemy may get wind of the fact that a claim- 
ant of the throne is on his way to England, and this 
might lead to the forcible seizure of the Prince as he 
was about to land. For this reason we advise that 
he should take passage under an assumed name on 
some steamship of one of the less prominent lines 
running to the Continent. Then upon his arrival 
the Prince can at once communicate with the Grand 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


187 


Council, using our cipher, of which you will see that 
he has a key. It gives us great joy to learn that the 
leader of our cause is so true a Prince, and that he 
has no hesitation about coming personally upon the 
soil of England in order to announce himself. Al- 
though he runs little danger by his brave step, it is 
still a matter for congratulation that he possesses 
courage. Concerning your report of the missing 
letter to yourself, which your agent believes that he 
saw in suspicious hands, we are sure that there must 
be some mistake. You have already acknowledged 
receiving all of the communications which we sent 
you previous to our learning of the discovery of the 
Prince. Let some faithful adherent of the cause, 
who sails on the next English steamer, bring us par- 
ticulars as to what vessel the Prince sails in. If our 
proposal in this respect is not carried out cable us in 
guarded terms to that effect. But if we receive no 
cable despatch we will take it for granted that the 
Prince is on his way toward the scene of the great 
triumph which awaits our cause.” 


CHAPTER XVIL 

LOOKING FORWARD. 

Of course/’ remarked Alfred as he laid down 
the translation of the letter from the Grand Coun- 
cil, this advice must be followed — and at once.” 

Both Fitzpatrick and Carlin agreed with their 
chief upon this point. 

A steamship of one of the Continental lines sails 
to-day,” said Carlin. It is a fairly good boat, but 
is not a mail steamer. It takes out a large number 
of second-class passengers who are going home on 
a few months’ visit, and it also carries a few saloon 
passengers.” 

'' What is it’s name? ” asked Fitzpatrick. 

'' It is the Orion. The first port she touches at is 
Boulogne.” 

The only question about that vessel,” said 
Alfred, ‘‘ is whether I can reach its dock before it 
sails.” 


i88 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


189 


Carlin picked up a morning newspaper and after 
consulting the steamship sailing list he announced: 

‘‘The Orion is advertised to sail from the dock 
in Jersey City — it is one just south of the Pennsyl- 
vania Railway — in exactly one hour/' 

“ Then," said Alfred, “ I will be a passenger on 
the Orion." 

“ Here is the cipher key which I just used," said 
Fitzpatrick as he placed the paper in the hands of 
his chief. “ You can render yourself familiar with it 
during the voyage." 

“ Very well, Fitzpatrick, I will have opportunities 
for studying it. But I wish to send a letter to my 
housekeeper. Carlin, I shall expect you to deliver 
it. And you had better be the messenger to take to 
the Grand Council the news that I sailed by the 
Orion. There is an English mail steamer to sail the 
day after to-morrow, is there not? " 

“Yes; and it will reach Liverpool sooner than 
you will reach Boulogne." 

“ So much the better. And you had better take 
with you the original papers which establish my 
claims. I gave them back to Fitzpatrick for safe 
keeping." 

“ I will place them in Carlin’s hands," said the old 
gentleman. 


190 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Alfred proceeded to write a short letter to Mrs. 
Glover. In this he directed the worthy housekeeper 
to take the best of care of his son Tom, as he himself 
had been suddenly called to Europe upon very im- 
portant business. Her faithfulness in this particular 
would place him under an obligation which it might 
be in his power shortly to acknowledge in a most 
substantial manner. He concluded the letter with a 
brief but touching message of farewell to his sick 
son. With the letter he enclosed a check for the 
comparatively small sum which he then had at his 
banker's. While he was writing the letter Fitzpat- 
rick and Carlin conversed aside in whispers. 

‘‘ I will induce the Prince to take a good sum of 
money with him in case of any accident," said Fitz- 
patrick. 

It may prove a wise precaution," replied Carlin. 

But I shall need scarcely any money myself." 

'' Carlin, you are a true patriot. Your services to 
the cause have been very great." 

'' But there was one matter in which I failed, and 
that failure worries me yet." 

You don't mean that you are still annoyed about 
that missing letter? " 

‘‘ Mr. Fitzpatrick, that is just what worries me." 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


191 

But you know what was in the letter we just re- 
ceived from the Grand Council. It expressly stated 
that they had sent us no communication which we 
had not acknowledged receiving. Nothing of any 
importance could have been sent to us from any 
source except the Grand Council.’’ 

‘‘ I am not quite so sure about that,” replied the 
secret agent with a dubious shake of the head. 

‘‘ You might have been mistaken, Carlin, about 
the letter having been addressed to me. It might 
have been addressed to some other person of my 
name. And your glimpse of the letter itself was had 
under circumstances which would have made it 
quite possible for you to have been misled. It may 
be that what you saw was some other cipher, which 
might bear some slight resemblance to ours.” 

I would like to think so if I could, Mr. Fitzpat- 
rick.” 

Gentlemen, I am ready,” said Alfred, interrupt- 
ing the conversation of his followers. Then placing 
the letter which he had just written in the hands of 
the secret agent he continued: ‘‘I will have just 
about time to reach the steamship ” 

Provided that your ferry-boat should not be de- 
tained in crossing the river,” broke in Carlin. 


192 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


That is a possibility which must be considered. 
I will say farewell to you now, my faithful friends.” 

Had we not better accompany you to the 
steamer? ” asked the old gentleman. 

Alfred shook his head and replied : 

‘‘ You, Fitzpatrick, can scarcely walk as rapidly as 
I intend to; and you, Carlin, should deliver the letter 
at my house as soon as possible.” 

Fitzpatrick and Carlin now prepared to take leave 
of their chief with a degree of deference to him which 
they believed to be his due. He perceived their in- 
tention, which he was then evidently in no humor to 
encourage. 

'' No, my friends,” he exclaimed, we will shake 
hands as old comrades ! ” 

Then seizing, first the hand of Fitzpatrick, and 
then that of Carlin, he shook these warmly. He said 
nothing further, but there was a look in his eyes 
which told in what high regard he held them. 

A roll of Bank of England notes was now thrust 
by Fitzpatrick into the hand of Alfred. The latter 
looked at the old gentleman in a puzzled manner. 

The money,” said Fitzpatrick, is to be de- 
livered to the Grand Council — that is if you 
shouldn’t happen to require it yourself.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


193 


Alfred nodded his head as if to admit that the ex- 
planation was a satisfactory one. Then bestowing 
a kindly smile upon both Fitzpatrick and Carlin he 
quickly left the office. 

The ferry to Jersey City was soon reached, and 
Alfred was not obliged to wait more than a few 
minutes for a boat. No vessel seemed disposed to 
get into the way of the ferry-boat on which Alfred 
was a passenger. Upon reaching the Jersey City 
ferry landing he found that he had thirty minutes at 
his disposal. He hailed a cab and directed the driver 
to take him to a furnishing store, where he pur- 
chased a travelling bag and a few other articles. 
When he had reached the wharf at which the Orion 
was moored, he found that he had ample time for 
purchasing his ticket. Shortly after he had boarded 
the steamship and had been shown to his stateroom 
the gang-planks were sent ashore and the mooring 
lines were cast off. Then uttering the usual loud 
shrieks with which outgoing ships announce their 
departure the Orion moved out into the stream. 

The after portion of the promenade deck was re- 
served for the first-cabin passengers, of whom there 
were less than twenty. Upon the forward prome- 
nade, however, were to be seen some three hundred 
13 


194 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


second-class passengers. These were people who 
evidently had come to America as immigrants years 
before, and who had thriven in the new land. As the 
Orion was beginning to get well under way she 
passed close to an incoming steamship whose decks 
were crowded with immigrants of the poorer order. 
The second-class passengers of the Orion seemed 
to be greatly interested in the sight which the pass- 
ing ship afforded them. Many were the comments 
and witticisms which were passed upon the poor im- 
migrants by the more fortunate persons, who had 
once like them been comparatively penniless and had 
worn soiled garments of outlandish fashions. 

When the Orion was nearing the Narrows Alfred 
came on deck and looked back at the great city, 
whose temples of business rose upward until they 
seemed to resemble a great hill, at the base of which 
stretched lofty forests composed of the spars and 
smoke-stacks of ocean vessels. At this striking sight 
Alfred gazed for some moments. Then his thoughts 
seemed to wander to the upper portion of the town 
that lay beyond his view. The Narrows having been 
passed, Alfred turned and looked seaward. Again 
his thoughts seemed to wander. This time he was 
looking at the inscrutable veil of the future. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


195 


Through it his eye could not penetrate; but upon it 
his fancy could paint glowing visions. He was not, 
however, picturing to himself the future pomp and 
pageantry that might possibly surround him. The 
picture which he was in fancy executing was of a 
nobler sort. In it there figured the humbler classes 
of a great nation elevated to a higher plane. 

The Orion met with fine weather during the first 
three days out from port. Captain Harmon, who 
was in command of the vessel, seemed to lack the 
genial qualities which so many of his fellow-ship- 
masters were blessed with. He had very little to say 
to his first-class passengers ; and the only attentions 
which he bestowed upon his second-class passengers 
consisted of disdainful looks. The Captain, how- 
ever, seemed to be very proud of his knowledge and 
of his skill in navigation. One afternoon in a pomp- 
ous manner he invited those of the first-class pas- 
sengers who happened to be on deck at the time to 
inspect the pilot-house. Alfred was among the 
favored few to whom this treat was offered. 

The Captain led the way up the steps of the bridge, 
which ran from side to side of the ship just aft of the 
pilot-house. Upon this bridge was a patent appli- 
ance for signalling to the engineer, and Captain 


196 A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 

Harmon explained how each of the little signal 
levers in the machine was worked, and what each 
signified to the man in charge below decks. The 
Captain then ushered his visitors into the pilot- 
house and delivered a brief lecture upon the use of 
the various appliances found there. From time to 
time during the delivery of this lecture the eye of 
the Captain, in wandering over his little audience, 
fell upon Alfred. A short time afterward, when the 
Captain happened to encounter the chief steward 
near the door of the cabin, the former pointed out 
Alfred and asked: 

Who is the tall, dark passenger yonder? ” 

All I know, sir, is that his name is Fairfield — or 
at least that is the name on his ticket.’’ 

I don’t like that fellow’s looks,” continued the 
Captain. He seems as important as if he was — the 
captain of this ship.” 

But he don’t put on any airs, sir. He talks pleas- 
antly to all of the stewards, and he has something 
nice to say — even to second-class passengers.” 

• '' Steward, it ain’t what he says I object to. It’s 
his looks. He ain’t rich nor successful, or he’d have 
let us know of it.” 

That’s very likely, sir.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


197 


“ Then as long as he’s an ordinary, every-day pas- 
senger he hasn’t got any right to look above his sta- 
tion that way.” 

On the fourth day out a heavy gale from the east- 
ward set in. The wind increased in violence until 
evening, when it blew with hurricane force. A high 
sea had been raked up by the fierce wind, and the 
Orion was unable to make anything like her usual 
rate of speed. The vessel was a thoroughly stanch 
one, and though her progress was retarded by the 
wind and waves, these were unable to inflict upon 
her any injury. The storm raged throughout the 
night, and when morning broke an extremely tem- 
pestuous sea was running. As the morning ad- 
vanced a decrease in the violence of the wind allowed 
the ship to improve her speed somewhat, although 
she was still beset by furious waves which rolled up 
upon her weather bow. Many of the great walls of 
water swept over her lower decks, almost engulfing 
the men who were there in the discharge of their 
duties. The second-class passengers had received 
instructions to remain below decks. But the first- 
class passengers were allowed, in consideration of 
their having paid a larger rate of fare, the privilege 
of taking their lives in their own hands. Among the 


198 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


few who were running the risk of being washed over- 
board was Alfred. He clung to the weather railing 
and watched the angry waves, which seemed to 
threaten so much, and yet caused such little damage. 

Captain Harmon stood upon the bridge. In his 
hands he held a pair of strong glasses. Presently a 
sailor stationed well forward called out something 
to an officer upon the lower deck, who in turn hailed 
the Captain. The latter raised his glasses to his eyes 
and looked to leeward. A moment later he lowered 
his glasses, and a look of annoyance rested upon his 
weather-beaten countenance. The officer now 
looked up at the Captain in an inquiring manner, 
and the latter shook his head. Alfred, who had seen 
the Captain use his glasses, now looked to leeward. 
He observed what at first sight seemed to be three 
large pegs that tossed upon the uneven horizon. 
These evidently were the masts of some sailing ves- 
sel. He looked more carefully, and he then noticed 
that the masts had been broken off. The vessel had 
apparently suffered in the gale. While he watched 
the broken masts he fancied that from one of these 
he saw something fluttering. Alfred hurried along 
the deck until he was almost beneath the bridge. 
Then looking up to the Captain he called out; 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


199 


Is not that stranger flying a signal of distress? ’’ 
Captain Harmon gave his questioner an angry 
glance and then replied : 

‘‘ What is it to you whether or no that vessel is 
flying a signal? 

‘‘ Have I not the right to ask? 

No ; you have not the right to ask ! ’’ 

Alfred gazed in astonishment at the Captain for a 
moment, and then, with a look of determination in 
his manly countenance, he deliberately ascended the 
steps that led to the bridge. 


CHAPTER XVIIL 

THE STRANGER. 

Captain Harmon manifested great surprise at 
what he must have regarded as the audacity of his 
tall passenger in ascending without permission to 
the bridge. The ship-master stepped backward a 
few paces and, as Alfred placed his foot upon the 
bridge, he gasped out: 

How dare you venture up here — it is against the 
rules ! I can put you in irons for this ! '' 

Will you kindly allow me to look through your 
glasses? asked Alfred in a respectful manner. 

'' I will do nothing of the sort. Get down off this 
bridge immediately! ’’ 

With a quick movement Alfred seized from the 
Captain’s hands the glasses, which he raised to his 
eyes. Soon he had brought the glasses to bear upon 
the crippled masts of the stranger that was tossing 
just beneath the horizon. Alfred made out a flag, 


200 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


201 


which was that of Norway, and which had been 
lashed upside down to the end of one of the broken 
masts. Then lowering the glasses he turned to Cap- 
tain Harmon and in a stern voice said : 

‘‘ It is an inverted flag — a sure signal of distress — 
that floats from the broken mast of your distressed 
neighbor ! 

The Captain appeared to make a strong effort 
to control his anger. He reached out his hands for 
the glasses, which his passenger now readily yielded 
to him, and as he raised these to his eyes he said: 

‘‘ Let me look again.’' 

After making another observation of the broken 
masts, the Captain said, in a querulous tone : 

It does seem to be a signal of distress — but what 
of that?” 

'' And do you mean to say,” demanded Alfred, 
‘‘that you see a vessel in distress and do not know 
what your duty is? ” 

“ I know very well what is my duty — to my own- 
ers,” replied the Captain. 

“ And don’t you know what your duty is to your 
distressed neighbors? ” 

“ At present I can only recognize my first duty — 
that to owners ! ” 


202 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


“ Then, Captain, do you intend to go on and leave 
that poor stranger yonder to its fate? ’’ 

Look here, Mr. whatever your name is, 

don’t go to wasting any sentiment on that fellow 
who is flying a signal of distress. The chances are 
that he is some lumber-laden vessel, that is bound to 
keep afloat for a long time to come. But he flies a 
signal of distress because the crew are in a panic, 
and they want to get on board a safer vessel at any 
cost. Why, there’s lots of dangerous abandoned 
wrecks of that sort floating about right in the path 
of steamships — they are liable to sink us any dark 
night. And yet most of those vessels might hav^e 
been saved if their crews had stuck to them like men. 
I tell you I can’t waste time, that means money to 
my owners, just to humor those cowardly sailors on 
that vessel over there.” 

‘‘ But, Captain,” demanded his questioner, ‘‘ how 
do you know that the vessel which is now signalling 
for aid is one of those crafts that you have just 
spoken of? ” 

Captain Harmon shrugged his shoulders and re- 
plied, in a testy manner: 

'' I don’t know anything about that fellow; but. 
I do know that I am going on about my business. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


203 


So you will please stop bothering me and get down 
off this bridge.” 

Captain,” exclaimed the other, '' you must go 
to the help of the stranger ! ” 

‘‘ I will not, I tell you — there is no law that com- 
pels me to pay any attention to him.” 

I say that there is such a law ! ” 

What law, I would like to know? ” 

“ The law of humanity! ” exclaimed Alfred. 

‘‘And who,” asked the Captain, with a sneer, “is 
going to enforce that law? ” 

“ I am going to attempt to enforce it ! ” was the 
reply, which was made in a calm tone. 

Alfred then stepped deliberately to the appliance 
from which signals were despatched to the engine- 
room, and he pulled the little lever which was 
marked “ slow.” An instant later the motion of the 
vessel seemed to indicate that the engineer had car- 
ried out the order which had been given without the 
consent of Captain Harmon. The latter was so 
taken aback by this bold move on the part of his re- 
bellious passenger that for the moment he was un- 
able to give expression to his rage. 

“ I have checked the engines,” remarked Alfred, 
“ by way of an emphatic protest to your proceeding 


204 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


without first doing something toward the succor of 
those distressed people yonder! ’’ 

Captain Harmon now found his tongue, and 
trembling with anger he replied : 

You shall pay for this, you madman! I would 
be warranted in shooting you down like a dog! In- 
stead, I will put you in irons ! ’’ Then beckoning to 
the officer on the lower deck he called out: Come 
here, Mr. Henry, and bring a few of your watch with 
you.” Again turning to the passenger who had de- 
fied him he said: We will now see who is master 
of the Orion.” 

Captain, I propose to force you to do your 
duty!” 

‘‘ Man, what do you mean? You see my men 
coming, and you must realize that they'll prove too 
much for you.” 

'' I propose,” said Alfred, to appeal to those men 
of yours. I propose to ask them if they will desert 
their fellow-beings who are yonder crying for help. 
They are true, brave men — they obey the orders 
which you give them — but when an appeal like this 
is brought home to them their hearts are touched, 
and they recognize a higher law than your com- 
mand!” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


205 


These words seemed to have made an impression 
upon the Captain, who, glancing down upon the 
lower deck saw Officer Henry with four burly sea- 
men at the foot of the ladder. 

See, here, my man,’' said Captain Harmon in a 
low voice to Alfred, '' sooner or later I’ll make you 
pay for this, but as it now stands I’ll have to go and 
see what can be done for those cursed cowards over 
there.” 

The Captain now called down to Officer Henry 
and gave him certain directions, and then turning 
toward the open door of the pilot-house he issued 
orders to the quartermaster who held the wheel. 
As the result of the Captain’s orders the Orion 
swung slowly around until her head pointed in the 
direction of the distressed vessel. Alfred gave no 
outward manifestation of elation, but bowing very 
respectfully to Captain Harmon he descended the 
bridge ladder. 

Having gotten rid for the present of his protesting 
passenger the Captain turned the lever in the signal- 
ling appliance which directed the engineer to in- 
crease the speed, and the Orion was soon running 
before the high seas. The distressed vessel shortly 
began to show her hull, from which a quantity of 


206 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


wreckage was dragging. Presently several men 
could be made out moving about the decks. When 
the Orion was within half a mile of the stranger 
Captain Harmon gave directions to heave the 
steamship to. As soon as this work had been ac- 
complished he was joined upon the bridge by Mr. 
Henry and another of his officers. They scrutinized 
the crippled craft very closely through the glasses. 
Her hull, it was now observed, was lying down very 
low in the water. Evidently her cargo was not lum- 
ber, which would have served to buoy her up, but 
some heavy material that held her down low in the 
trough of the sea. No boats could be seen hanging 
from her davits. Her people, of whom but five 
could be counted, were waving their hands to their 
possible rescuers. 

Captain Harmon glanced among his passengers, 
nearly all of whom were now upon deck, and he had 
no difficulty in picking out the tall gentleman who 
had induced him to draw near the distressed vessel. 

I say, you, sir! '' called out the Captain, point- 
ing to Alfred. 

The latter heard the call and made his way quickly 
to the foot of the bridge ladder. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


207 


Just step up here/’ said Captain Harmon. I 
want to consult with you.” 

Alfred mounted to the bridge. The ship-master 
pointed out to him the fact that a furious sea was 
running, and that to launch a boat under the exist- 
ing conditions would prove a very dangerous mat- 
ter. 

But, Captain,” said Alfred, the wind is going 
down rapidly, and the sea will certainly subside 
soon.” 

My objection to waiting this time,” was the re- 
ply, ‘‘ will not be the loss of a few valuable hours to 
my owners. It is the fact that the wreck is not 
likely to keep afloat much longer.” 

‘‘ Do you think that she is liable to go down with- 
in three or four hours? ” 

‘‘ I think,” replied the Captain, that she will not 
be afloat one hour from now.” 

And you do not think it safe to lower a life-boat 
in this sea? ” continued Alfred. 

I would be willing to risk a life-boat, but I have 
no right to endanger the lives of any of my men by 
sending them out in such a sea as this.” 

Do you object to any of your men volunteer- 


2o8 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


I shall not allow an officer of mine to risk his life 
that way — for I could not afford to lose an officer.’’ 

‘‘ W ould you allow any of your sailors to volun- 
teer? ” 

‘‘ I might allow them,” replied the Captain, but 
there is not one of my sailors who could command 
the life-boat.” 

‘‘Very well,” replied Alfred; “I can manage a 
life-boat. You need not ask me where I have had 
my experience with life-boats. It is enough that I 
am able to manage one. And now I will call for 
volunteers.” 

The Captain shrugged his shoulders, and then 
gave orders that all hands, except those that were 
actually performing some duty, should be “ called 
aft.” When the crew had assembled on the lower 
deck below the bridge the Captain asked if any of the 
men were willing to go to the aid of the stranger. 
Not a man signified his wish to make the venture. 
Alfred seemed about to commence an appeal to the 
seamen when the Captain said: 

“ Come, sir, it is not right to urge my men to a 
piece of folly that might cost them their lives. If 
they should volunteer it would be a different mat- 
ter.” 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


209 


‘‘ Do none of you men volunteer to go with me to 
the aid of the poor fellows yonder? '' called out Al- 
fred. 

Two men among the crew now responded by 
holding up their right hands. One was a fresh-faced 
young German, and the other was a wiry seaman of 
middle age, who evidently was an Englishman by 
birth. 

Two will not be enough,’' said the Captain. It 
will take six to man the oars of one of our life-boats.” 

Alfred now turned quickly toward his fellow-pas- 
sengers, who in the excitement of the moment had 
mingled together without regard to their class, and 
cried: 

'' Are there not four brave men among you who 
can handle oars for a purpose like this? ” 

Five men raised their hands. Two of these were 
from the first cabin, while the other three were of 
the second-class. One of the latter, however, ap- 
peared to possess more courage than strength, and 
his offer was rejected. The other four, together 
with the two sailor volunteers, prepared themselves 
for the chivalrous enterprise. Captain Harmon 
ordered that the port life-boat should be lowered, 
and Officer Henry directed this work. The boat 
14 


210 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


had been securely lashed, and it took several mo- 
ments to loosen the fastenings. Then the davits 
proved to be very rusty, and it was found very dif- 
ficult to turn these in order to swing out the boat. 
Alfred grew impatient at the slow progress which 
was being made by the sailors, and going to the boat 
he placed his shoulder against this and gave it a push 
which sent it outward with a rapidity that was sur- 
prising. The members of the crew engaged in this 
work paused and gazed for an instant in admiration 
at the passenger who had displayed such strength. 
After the boat had been pushed outward great care 
had to be used in lowering it into the water. The 
tackles worked slowly, and twice during its descent 
the boat narrowly escaped being dashed against the 
iron side of the ship. At length the life-boat reached 
the water safely. A rope ladder, with wooden steps, 
had been hung over the ship’s side, and down this 
the members of the volunteer crew made their way. 
One by one they sprang into the boat and took their 
places. Then the painter was cast off and the life- 
boat pushed out among the heavy seas. Alfred, 
from his post at the stern, guided the boat. The lat- 
ter was but a few rods from the ship’s side when Cap- 
tain Harmon called out: 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


211 


‘‘ The stranger is settling down in the water, so be 
very careful in going close to her. We will steam 
around to leeward of the wreck, so that after you 
leave her all you will have to do will be to drift down 
to us.’’ 

Alfred replied that he would follow these direc- 
tions. The men now settled down to work with their 
oars, while their commander handled the rudder ef- 
fectively although somewhat awkwardly. The boat 
struggled along, now climbing to the crest of a great 
wave, and now shooting down into the water-locked 
vale that lay beyond. Soon Alfred was able to dis- 
tinguish clearly the faces of the poor fellows upon 
the wreck. Although succor seemed rapidly to be 
drawing near to them they yet appeared to be in a 
state of terror. The debris which hung over the side 
of the wreck served as a sort of drag that tended to 
steady her. But it would have been impossible for 
the boat to approach the wreck except from the lee 
side, which was free from debris. Alfred accord- 
ingly guided his little craft around to the lee of the 
wreck. Then he directed his crew to pull together 
with all their strength. Up to this moment they had 
been running before both the wind and the waves, 
which now opposed them in their attempt to get up 


2T2 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


to the side of the wreck. They were able, in fact, to 
make scarcely any progress. Alfred sprang up and 
was about to change places with one of the crew, in 
order to bring his great strength to bear upon an 
oar, when one of the men upon the wreck called out: 

Look out! We are sinking! ” 


CHAPTER XIX. 


A SACRIFICE. 

This cry of warning from the wreck reached the 
ears of the men in the boat and caused them in- 
stinctively to rest upon their oars. Alfred called to 
the distressed seamen to spring overboard and swim 
toward the boat. Then he grasped the tiller-ropes 
and prepared to manoeuvre the boat in order to pick 
up such of the men as should trust themselves 
among the dangerous waves. 

One man was seen to leap from the wreck, but his 
four comrades seemed to lack the courage to follow 
him. After coming to the surface the sailor struck 
out boldly in the direction of the boat. In the bow 
of the latter was the English seaman from the Orion, 
who now bent over the gunwale and prepared to 
grasp the swimmer as soon as he should arrive with- 
in reach. 

Then there came from one of the men who had 

remained behind a cry. The wreck now gave a vio- 
213 


214 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


lent lurch to leeward, and plunging forward she 
raised her stern high above the surface. Then 
she dived down into the depths, carrying with her 
the four unfortunates who had clung to her too 
long. 

The swimmer was now almost within reach of the 
brave Englishman who bent over the bow of the life- 
boat. At that instant the mighty vortex, which had 
succeeded the disappearance of the wreck, was 
sweeping up toward the boat. The swimmer had 
lifted his hand, which had been grasped by that of 
the Englishman, when the whirling rush of waters 
struck the boat and flung it almost upon its beam 
ends, partially filling it. In the shock the English 
hero had lost his balance. He fell headlong into the 
deadly wave, which sucked him under the surface 
together with the man whom he had striven to 
rescue. 

Alfred saw the pair disappear, and leaning over 
the stern of the wildly tossing boat he vainly 
watched for them to come to the surface. As the 
seconds passed without his being able to discover a 
single vestige of either of the missing men, there 
came into the face of Alfred a look of dismay which 
finally deepened into an expression of agony. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


215 


God help me! '' he exclaimed. “ Have I been 
the means of taking that brave fellow's life? " 
Presently he glanced toward the debris which 
marked the neighborhood in which the wreck had 
disappeared. 

Perhaps there is a life there," he muttered. ‘‘ It 
would replace the one that I have lost ! " 

The five remaining oarsmen seemed to share the 
slender hope that had just entered the mind of their 
commander. They bent upon their oars, and the 
boat was steered toward the tossing fragments of 
wreckage. Among these a thorough search was 
made, but without resulting in the discovery of any- 
thing which had life. 

The Orion had in the meantime gotten under way 
and had steamed around in a circular course until 
she was about half a mile to leeward of the scene of 
the disaster, and there she had again hove to. Cap- 
tain Plarmon had evidently grown impatient, for the 
great steam-whistle of the Orion now began to 
sound in short, fretful blasts. Alfred realized that 
these signals were intended as an imperative recall 
of the life-boat. 

'' We must return," he said to his crew. You 
have all worked nobly, and should not take to heart 


2i6 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


the disastrous result of our attempt to save life. The 
blame for our great loss is mine alone.'’ 

The life-boat now headed toward the steamship. 
The wind and sea were again in the favor of the little 
craft, and while four of the crew worked at the oars 
the remaining volunteer strove to bale out the water 
which had boarded the boat at the time that it had 
been struck by the vortex-like wave. As the life- 
boat approached the steamship Captain Harmon 
stood at the end of the bridge with his glasses at his 
eyes. In the stern look that overspread his features 
there was something which to a close observer 
would have suggested exultation. 

Presently the life-boat was brought in safety 
alongside the steamship, and the little crew ascended 
the ladder. Mr. Henry was at hand ready to direct 
the hoisting up of the boat. A deep silence prevailed 
among the assembled passengers as the six brave 
men reached the Orion’s decks. Alfred glanced 
neither to the right nor to the left, but made his way 
quickly to the bridge. There was a look of great 
sorrow in his manly face as he met the gaze of the 
angry Captain, who with something of a sneer 
began : 

So — so, my man, you have returned without the 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


217 


poor fellows you were so anxious to save. And, let 
me see, you brought back only one of the two sailors 
that I allowed to go in your care.'’ 

“ The other man/' replied Alfred with a tremor in 
his voice, I had the misfortune to lose." 

“ And you were not content to rob the owners of 
this ship of some very valuable time, but you must 
needs sacrifice the very best seaman in my whole 
crew — and all that because you happened to be in a 
sentimental humor." 

Then the Captain shrugged his shoulders disdain- 
fully and muttered a deep curse. 

‘‘ Rail at me, Captain," said Alfred. ‘‘ I have been 
the cause of the poor fellow's death. But for my ap- 
peal you would never have stopped in the hope of 
aiding " 

‘T did not stop in the hope of aiding anyone," 
interrupted the Captain. “ I stopped simply in 
order to prevent a madman from raising a mutiny 
on my ship. And I shall consider it my duty to re- 
port your case to the proper authorities when we 
reach port. Until then I parole you, with the under- 
standing that you do not break out again during this 
voyage. I can't run the risk of losing another man 
like English Dave." 


2i8 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


“ Then he was an Englishman — he looked like 
one/’ 

‘‘ Dave Clark was an Englishman, and had a wife 
and six children at his home in Liverpool. I don’t 
know that they’ll miss Dave himself much, but I’m 
mighty sure they will miss the support that Dave 
would have continued to give them if it hadn’t been 
for you.” 

A look of relief now stole into Alfred’s face, and 
as if unconscious of the presence of Captain Har- 
mon, he said: 

I am glad of that. It is much better than if they 
belonged to some other nationality. Yes; the wom- 
an and her children shall not want. I will do more. 
Wealth shall be hers; and should her children prove 
worthy of such, honors perhaps await them! ” 

Captain Harmon was now gazing in blank aston- 
ishment at the passenger who had uttered such 
strange words. Alfred said nothing further, but ap- 
pearing suddenly to recall the fact that he was in the 
presence of the shipmaster, he bowed respectfully to 
the latter and withdrew from the bridge. 

The life-boat had been hauled up to its davits, 
which were now being swung in. An instant later, 
in response to a signal from the bridge the great 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


219 


engines resumed their labors; and soon the Orion 
was again steaming in the direction of the English 
Channel. 

After leaving the bridge Alfred made his way to 
his state-room, and a steward heard him turn the 
key in his door. At dinner-time Alfred did not make 
his appearance; nor in the morning following was 
he among those who responded to the breakfast- 
gong. The day was fine and although there was yet 
considerable of a swell upon the ocean the wind had 
died down into a gentle breeze. Passengers of both 
classes took advantage of the good weather by in- 
dulging in invigorating promenades. But the op- 
portunity for recreation did not bring forth the 
tall passenger. It was not until early evening, when 
dinner had been announced, that Alfred made his 
appearance. After taking his place at table he 
bowed to his neighbors, but during the remainder 
of the meal he appeared to be entirely engrossed by 
his own reflections, which were evidently of a mel- 
ancholy character. 

During the three days which followed the pas- 
sengers noticed that the tall gentleman, known to 
them as Mr. Fairfield, rarely left his state-room ex- 
cept at meal hours. Nor could any one afterward 


220 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


remember having heard his voice within that period. 
The Orion had been considerably retarded, owing 
principally to head-winds; but at dinner on the 
evening of the ninth day out from New York it was 
announced to the passengers of the first-class that 
the Lizard Lights would probably be passed before 
morning, and that when daylight arrived the Orion 
would be steaming along within sight of the south- 
ern coast of England. General expressions of de- 
light followed this announcement, and even Alfred 
was observed to raise his head with something like 
a look of interest. He said nothing, however, to any 
of his fellow-passengers, but at the conclusion of the 
dinner returned immediately to his state-room. 

Early the next morning a few of the first-class pas- 
sengers ventured upon deck in the hope of catching 
a glimpse of the Lizard Lights. They found, how- 
ever, that a dense fog had settled over the water. 
The Captain was upon the bridge with the Second 
Officer, and both seemed to be keeping an anxious 
lookout. It was now observed by one of the pas- 
sengers that the engines of the Orion had been 
slowed down to fully one-half of their usual speed. 
The decks were wet and uninviting and there was a 
piercing chill about the damp, thick atmosphere. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


221 


The group of venturesome passengers gradually 
broke up until there only remained a slender youth, 
wearing an approved tourist’s costume and sporting 
a large pair of night-glasses. 

At length the gray light of day began to steal its 
way into the wilderness of mist through which the 
Orion was groping its course. As this light grew 
slowly stronger the faces of the Captain and of his 
officer took on an additional shade of anxiety. Sev- 
eral times they called to the lookouts forward, ask- 
ing if the latter could make out anything ahead. 
Each time the reply was in the negative. Presently 
Captain Harmon turned abruptly to his companion 
upon the bridge, and said : 

Where can we be? ” 

The officer shrugged his shoulders in a dubious 
manner and replied : 

“ W e ought to have made the lights even in the 
fog — that is, if our reckoning is right.” 

‘‘ It must be right, for I compared my longitude 
with the English mail steamer only yesterday after- 
noon.” 

I don’t think. Captain, there could have been 
any mistake in our reading the signals that the mail 
boat gave us.” 


222 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


'' And yet, curse it, if we were right we’d have 
made the lights before this.” 

Just then one of the lookouts cried: 

A buoy close on the starboard bow! ” 

What kind of a buoy? ” demanded the Captain. 

‘‘ It looks like a bell-buoy, but ’tain't working — 
must have been run into! ” 

'' A bell-buoy ! ” cried the Captain. Isn’t it 
adrift? ” 

No, sir,” was the reply, it’s fast — sure! ” 

‘‘ Captain,” said the officer, we’re clean out of 
our course! ” 

Captain Harmon touched the signal that directed 
the engines to be stopped. Then he said to the 
officer: 

'' We must take soundings again— though the last 
soundings seemed to show that we were all right.” 

The officer was about to give directions for the 
heaving of the lead when the lookout yelled: 

'' Rocks right ahead ! ” 

Instantly the Captain called to the quartermaster 
in the wheel-house to put the helm hard to star- 
board, and at the same time he touched the signal 
directing the engines to be set going at full speed 
astern. But the orders came too late. Scarcely had 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


223 


these been given when there came a shock. It was 
not a violent shock, although it sent a tremor 
through the entire ship ; nor was the crash that fol- 
lowed the shock a very loud one. But there was 
about this shock and its dull report something that 
was deadly. 

For a moment the Orion seemed to be fast upon 
the rocks that she had struck. Then the workings 
of her powerful engines dragged her free from the 
entanglement, and she slid back into deep water. 
The youthful passenger who had remained on deck 
in the hope of seeing sights now made his way 
toward the saloon companionway. His motion 
caiight the eye of the Captain, who called out to him: 

“Tell the people below that nothing of conse- 
quence has happened. There isn’t the slightest 
danger.” 

“ All right, sir,” replied the youth as he disap- 
peared at the companionway door. 

One or two of the second-cabin passengers now 
showed themselves at their companionway. 

“ Keep those people below! ” cried the Captain to 
the boatswain, who was passing the second-cabin 
entrance. 

The petty officer obeyed the order by pushing the 


224 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


offending passengers back into the companionway. 
Then with a curse he told them there was no danger ; 
and in order to prevent their attempting to return 
to the deck he closed the companionway door and 
turned its key, which happened to be upon the out- 
side. Officer Henry, who had been forward at the 
time of the grounding of the ship, now reached the 
bridge, and he reported to the Captain that he had 
looked over the bows and had discovered a large 
hole which had been knocked in the stem and ex- 
tended below the water mark. 

‘‘ But I am sure,’' he said, that the injuries are all 
forward of the collision bulkhead.” 

And besides we are protected by the double bot- 
tom. I was sure the ship was safe,” said the Captain. 

Just then one of the engineers reached the deck, 
and with a white face he called out : 

Captain, there’s a big hole right through both 
bottoms, and the water’s running in like a mill- 
race!” 

''Then man the steam-pumps! ” 

" It’s no use, Captain — we are sinking! ” 


CHAPTER XX. 


THE LAST OF THE ORION. 

A look of dismay stole into Captain Harmon’s 
face as he realized that his vessel had met her fate. 
But, instantly recovering himself, he ordered that 
the boats should be cleared away as rapidly as pos- 
sible. Then he directed the Second Officer to go 
down into the first cabin and inform the passengers 
there that they must prepare to leave the ship im- 
mediately. 

And next run into the second cabin and make 
them tumble out at once! ’’ continued the Captain. 

The officer hurried down into the saloon and 
found several half-dressed passengers engaged in an 
eager discussion. Their youthful companion had 
assured them that there was. no danger whatever, 
and he had then darted into his own state-room. 
Here a fellow-passenger found the youth a moment 
later engaged in fastening upon himself a patent 
15 225 


226 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


life-preserver. Though he had scarcely doubted 
the Captain's statement he had instinctively begun 
to place himself upon the safe side. 

After having warned the first-class passengers, 
the officer made his way to a door which connected 
with the quarters of the second-class passengers. 
This door was found to be locked, but a frightened 
steward now appeared with the key. An instant 
later the officer was among the second-class pas- 
sengers. The announcement which he quickly made 
filled the poor people with consternation. A large 
proportion were women and children. A moment 
later half a dozen stalwart men, the pioneers of the 
second-class people, hurried up the companion- 
way. They found the door fastened, but against 
this they threw their united force and the lock 
yielded. 

The decks now presented an exciting scene. The 
life-boat which had been used in the attempt to res- 
cue the men from the unknown wreck, was being 
launched; and sailors were at work clearing away 
several of the other boats. 

By the time that the first life-boat had been 
launched all of the first-class passengers, with one 
exception, were upon deck. There were but three 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


227 


women among the number, and these bore up 
bravely. 

The first-class passengers only will go in this! 
cried one of the officers, as he pushed back several 
of the poor people of the second-cabin who seemed 
anxious to get into the boat that had just reached the 
water. 

The saloon passengers then crowded into the boat 
which, however, seemed an ample refuge for them 
all. This boat was manned by six members of the 
crew and was commanded by the Purser. While 
the boat was yet alongside the ship the Captain 
called out from the bridge: 

Are the first-class people all in that boat? ’’ 

I believe so,’’ replied the officer. 

‘‘ No, they are not — where’s the tall man? ” 

‘‘ That’s so — there’s one missing.” 

Just then the missing saloon passenger made his 
appearance upon deck. He did not come from the 
first-class companionway, but from that of the 
second-cabin. And he did not come alone. In his 
strong arms he bore an aged woman and also a 
child of about two years. The mother of the 
child followed, carrying an infant of but a few 
months. 


228 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


'' Come here, Fairfield,'' called out the officer, 
'' you must go in this boat! " 

Alfred glanced at the boat which was yet along- 
side waiting to receive him, and he replied: 

I must see these poor people safely in the boats 
before I leave the ship! " 

‘‘ Then have it your own way," replied the officer, 
who then called out to the Purser: ‘‘ Go ahead! " 
The life-boat shoved off from the Orion and 
headed out into the mist. In the meantime the 
work of lowering other boats had progressed but 
slowly. The davits were all rusty, and the tackles 
were badly in need of overhauling. The second 
boat to leave the davits was swamped, owing to care- 
less lowering. Better luck attended the launching 
of the third boat, and into this sprang an excited 
crowd of people that threatened to overload the little 
craft. The Surgeon, who had charge of this boat, 
pushed it off while an old man, just ready to leap, 
was hanging over the ship's side. The poor fellow's 
hold was relaxing, and the next instant he would 
have fallen into the sea had not a strong arm grasped 
him and pulled him back upon the deck. Then he 
looked up and recognized in his rescuer the tall gen- 
tleman who had led in the attempt to succor the 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


229 


people upon the unknown wreck. The sailors were 
now struggling to push out a fourth boat, the davits 
of which stubbornly resisted their efforts. 

‘‘ Be quick there,'' cried Captain Harmon, or 
we'll have to swim ! " 

As he uttered these words the Captain saw a fire- 
man emerge from the engine-room. In the face of 
the man, grimy though it was from coal-dust, could 
be detected the pallor of fear. Lifting a trembling 
hand toward the Captain, as if to fix the latter’s at- 
tention, the fireman called out: 

‘‘ Captain, we ain't got ten minutes longer to 
float! ” 

The master of the Orion glanced over the side, 
and he observed that the water was nearer to the 
level of the decks than he had supposed. 

The fellow is right," he muttered. Then he 
called out to one of the stewards : '' Pass out the life- 
preservers — and be quick about it! " 

The steward instantly responded to the order by 
tearing the canvas from a large box that had been 
lashed near the second-cabin companionway. Here 
were stored a large number of life-preservers, which 
the steward flung in armfuls among the alarmed 
passengers. The poor creatures struggled for the 


230 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


life-preservers like famished dogs for so many 
bones. While they were securing the prizes and 
fastening these upon themselves it escaped the ob- 
servation of the most of them that their chivalrous 
fellow-passenger had gone to the help of the men 
who were striving to launch the boats. 

The tall figure of Alfred seemed to loom up above 
those of the men who labored beside him, but in a 
much greater proportion did his strength appear to 
excel that of any of the others. And it proved that 
his great strength, added to theirs, represented the 
exact force that was required in order to push out- 
ward the rusty davits of the boats. After they had 
succeeded in swinging out one boat, Alfred and 
his fellow-workers would bring their strength to 
bear upon the next boat. In this manner they suc- 
ceeded within a very short space of time in pushing 
outward no less than five boats. The work of over- 
hauling the tackles and of lowering these boats into 
the water was left to other members of the crew, 
under the direction of Officer Henry. One of the 
five boats was swamped, but the other four were 
launched in safety. These boats were rapidly filled 
by passengers and members of the crew. A number 
of the people were urging the officers in charge of 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


231 


their respective boats to push off from the side of 
the sinking Orion. 

Captain Harmon from his post upon the bridge 
had watched, with admiration in his anxious face, 
the great work which had been performed by his tall 
passenger. The quartermaster had dropped his 
wheel and had hurried to one of the boats. The 
Captain was about to follow his petty officer when a 
woman in the Second Officer’s boat called out that 
her youngest child, who had been left in the care of 
her husband, had been forgotten by the excited man 
and was yet in the cabin. Alfred, who had been 
about to climb over the vessel’s side, now hurried to 
the companionway, down which he disappeared. 
The Captain then sprang into the pilot-house and 
seized the wheel. He hoped to be able to steady the 
sinking ship until his brave passenger should return 
with the missing child. 

Officer Henry called out to the Captain that he 
was running a great risk. The latter made no reply, 
but worked the wheel with a firm hand. There now 
remained upon the Orion three human beings: 
Alfred, Captain Harmon, and the missing child. 

A single boat, the one commanded by the Second 
Officer, remained alongside the foundering ship. 


232 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


The others could be faintly seen moving slowly out 
into the mist like so many spectral crafts. The only 
sounds to be heard were the murmurs of the waves 
which splashed both within and without the sinking 
vessel. Not a word was spoken in the crowded boat 
which still lay close to the Orion. Every eye was 
bent upon the silent and deserted decks that were so 
surely descending toward the grim waters. Sud- 
denly the gaze of anxious people was rewarded by 
the sight for which they had been waiting impa- 
tiently. 

Alfred had emerged from the companionway. In 
his arms was a half-dressed infant which was crow- 
ing lustily, and all unconscious of its danger was 
clutching in play at the face of its rescuer. The 
mother of the little one saw it, and springing up in 
the boat uttered a cry of joy. Then a loud cheer 
went up from the crowded boat. The occupants of 
the other boats that lay out at the edge of the mist 
took up the cheer of their comrades. 

‘‘ Quick — quick ! ’’ cried the Second Officer. 

Alfred reached the side of the ship, and then after 
gently swinging the little one back he threw it out- 
ward. A burly sailor caught the infant in his arms. 
In another instant the mother was pressing to her 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


233 


bosom the recovered child. Again a cheer went up 
from the boat, and again the cheer was taken up by 
those in the boats that lay beyond. Captain Har- 
mon had left the wheel and was now upon deck. He 
called out to the Second Officer: 

‘‘ Pull off from the side — we will swim out to 
you!’’ 

The Second Officer had no need to give his order 
to the men who manned his boat. Already they had 
bent upon their oars, and the boat was gliding away 
from the Orion. Alfred nodded his head in the di- 
rection of the Captain, as if to show his approval of 
the boat’s pushing off. He then braced himself as if 
for the purpose of springing overboard. Just then 
the sinking ship gave a sudden lurch and Alfred 
staggered backward. A man in the boat now ut- 
tered a cry of warning. The tackle, designed to hold 
in its position the end of a heavy iron boom, had sud- 
denly become loose. With the lurch the boom 
swung toward Alfred. Evidently he did not realize 
that the warning cry had been intended for himself. 
He again braced himself as if for a leap, when the 
boom struck him a fearful blow just beneath the 
shoulders, and flung him apparently lifeless upon the 
deck. 


234 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Captain Harmon bent downward in order to 
avoid the swinging boom and hurried to the pros- 
trate man. The latter was breathing heavily, but 
was apparently unconscious. The Captain passed 
his hand over Alfred's back, and found that this had 
been broken. His death would undoubtedly follow 
in a few moments, even if he should remain afloat 
that length of time. There were tears in the eyes of 
the weather-beaten shipmaster as he gazed at the 
man whom he had formerly hated. Then the Cap- 
tain yielded to an impulse to manifest something 
of his appreciation of the heroism which he had wit- 
nessed. Bending upon one knee he seized Alfred's 
hand and raised it to his lips with a look of deep 
reverence. No crowned King was ever paid an act 
of homage more sincere than was this one. 

After this expression of his feelings Captain Har- 
mon sprang overboard and struck out for the 
Second Officer's boat, which was now lying to in 
order to receive him. A moment later the swimmer 
reached the boat in safety. As the latter again 
started up it was noticed that a breeze had arisen 
and was driving away the mist with wonderful 
rapidity. 

The Orion seemed to cling as tenaciously to life 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


235 


as if she had been human. Upon her deck still lay 
Alfred, breathing heavily. The mist parted suddenly 
and a great gleam of sunlight fell upon the wreck, 
and as if in response to its brightening influence 
Alfred regained consciousness. He appeared in- 
stantly to realize what had occurred. Then he 
glanced out over the water, now unobscured by mist. 
To the left lay the rocks that had proved fatal to the 
Orion. A mile beyond these rose the rock-bound 
coast. To the right in a cluster were bunched the 
boats which carried the Orion's passengers and 
crew. And toward this tiny flotilla there was head- 
ing from seaward, with all sails set, a fleet of fishing- 
vessels. As he beheld this sight a smile played 
around the lips of Alfred. 

An instant later the Orion gave a wild lurch and 
sank amid the roar of her exploding boilers. Her 
upper spars and a portion of her smoke-funnel re- 
mained above the surface, as if to mark the spot 
where the green waters of the Channel had closed 
over the head of a hero. 


CHAPTER XXL 


HOPE DEFERRED. 

A few days after the loss of the Orion a gloomy 
meeting of the Grand Council of the adherents of 
the Stuart cause was held in London. Mr. Barton, 
the official head of the Council, presided. There 
were present at the meeting nearly a dozen mem- 
bers of the New York Council, and among these 
were OTarrell and Craig. Mr. Campbell, the sec- 
retary of the Grand Council, reported that he had 
directed his assistants to communicate with all of the 
branch Councils in the British Islands, informing 
them that the proposed restoration could not be 
effected at present owing to an unfortunate event 
which had just transpired, but which, however, could 
not prevent the ultimate triumph of their cause. 

'' I did not enter into particulars,” explained 
Secretary Campbell to Mr. OTarrell, since very 
few of our people knew anything about the Prince 
236 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


237 


with the exception of the fact that he was un- 
doubtedly the lawful heir of the house of Stuart. 
And it is not necessary that they should know at 
present of our great loss. It might lead many of 
them to fear that misfortune would forever over- 
shadow the cause. When we publish to the whole 
country the proofs upon which the young Prince 
bases his claims we can declare that he is a worthy 
son of the hero of the Orion. That alone will win 
to our cause countless converts.” 

I suppose,” remarked Chairman Barton, that 
the great body of our American contingent which 
came over to aid in the restoration will be obliged 
to return? ” 

I think that few of them are prepared to remain 
here any length of time,” explained OTarrell. ‘‘ But 
they will come back whenever they may be re- 
quired.” 

Barton then gave it as his opinion that it would 
be well to postpone the bringing over of Alfred’s 
successor until the following spring. A discussion 
followed and it was found that m.ore than nine- 
tenths of the Grand Council were for various rea- 
sons in favor of postponing the bringing over of 
the young Prince until the ensuing spring. O’Far- 


238 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


rell then assured the Council that they had arrived 
at a wise decision. 

It may take us some little time/’ he said, ‘‘ to 
induce the heir to undertake the enterprise. He 
may prove stubborn. I know that he had some wild 
notions in his head a short time ago.” 

'' What kind of wild notions? ” asked Barton. 

‘‘ He had imbibed some socialistic ideas.” 

Oh, he’ll outgrow those fast enough.” 

But he informed his father that he could not in 
any way lend his aid to anything of a monarchical 
character.” 

Nonsense,” exclaimed Barton. ‘‘ But if he 
should continue recreant we have Prince Thomas to 
turn to. He didn’t have any of those wild notions, 
did he?” 

There was an odd look in the expressive eyes of 
O’Farrell as he replied: 

The young Prince did have one rather wild no- 
tion in his head, but I believe all of that has been 
taken out of him by a certain faithful adherent of 
the cause who is named Barlow.” 

“ Good for Barlow. He has done something 
which he will never regret.” 

O’Farrell shrugged his shoulders in an odd man- 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


239 


ner, as if he might entertain some doubts upon this 
point. After the main business which had brought 
them together had been transacted the members of 
the Grand Council listened to some very interesting 
information concerning the Stuart organizations in 
Am.erica. When the meeting broke up all were 
strong in the belief that the cause was still advanc- 
ing toward a great triumph. 

Upon the following day OTarrell and Craig 
started for Liverpool in order to take the swift mail 
steamship Zodiac for New York. They found upon 
boarding the vessel that she carried an unusually 
large number of steerage passengers, and they 
recognized the great majority of these as adherents 
of the Stuart cause, who had come over to aid in the 
proposed restoration and were now returning to 
their homes in America. Among the passengers 
who boarded the steamship when she made her call 
at Queenstown Harbor was Terance Carlin. The 
secret agent had taken a short run into Ireland in 
order to visit some near relatives. 

The Zodiac made a very quick passage, by which 
she lowered the westward record between Queens- 
town and Sandy Hook. As soon as the steamship 
had reached her dock, O’Farrell, accompanied by 


240 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


Carlin and Craig, hurried to the office of Fitzpatrick. 
There was a look of deep melancholy in the face of 
the old gentleman as he welcomed the trio. 

Then you had no difficulty, Mr. Fitzpatrick, in 
making out the meaning of the despatch we sent 
you? ’’ said O’Farrell. 

Your words were but too plain,” was the reply. 

I saw in the newspapers accounts of the great dis- 
aster. I regret now that I did not insist upon ac- 
companying the Prince upon the Orion. Perhaps 
I could have induced him to have abandoned the 
ship in time.” 

' '' You would not have succeeded,” put in Carlin. 

The Prince would never have left the sinking 
Orion as long as there was a life on her to be 
saved.” 

It was hard work for me to reconcile myself to 
remaining here when all the rest had started for the 
scene of the proposed struggle. But some one had 
to remain behind in order to engineer the American 
end of the movement.” 

O’Farrell then explained to Fitzpatrick the rea- 
sons for viewing the outlook hopefully which had 
been advanced at the recent meeting of the Grand 
Council, and the old gentleman soon began to 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


241 


grow enthusiastic; but presently his face suddenly 
dropped, and he said: 

‘‘ I broke the news to Alfred's younger son. The 
poor fellow took the blow terribly to heart." 

But did you see the elder son? " asked Craig. 

No; he is in the West upon some business. 
His brother does not know where he is, but their 
housekeeper is positive that he will return to New 
York in the course of a fortnight." 

'' And I will see to it," put in Carlin, “ that you 
are informed of the matter as soon^as he returns to 
New York." 

The judgment of Mrs. Glover proved to be at 
error in this instance. Six weeks passed without 
Henry making his appearance in New York. Car- 
lin finally proposed that he should go West in 
search of the man whom the Stuart followers de- 
sired to make their chief. Fitzpatrick and O'Farrell 
approved of the plan, and the secret agent was 
about to start for St. Louis when he happened to 
spy Henry, with a travelling-bag in his hand, board- 
ing an elevated railway train bound up-town. The 
fact of Henry's return was speedily reported to 
Fitzpatrick, who at once called a meeting of the 

New York Council. 

16 


242 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Shortly after eight o'clock that evening Mrs. 
Glover ushered into the parlor of Alfred’s late home 
the members of the Committee of Four and its two 
advisers. Some twenty minutes later Henry en- 
tered the room. He appeared to have been greatly 
moved by the news of his father’s death, and his 
eyes bore traces of recent tears. 

O’Farrell began the interview by expressing pro- 
found regret for the great loss which they had all 
sustained. Henry merely nodded his head in reply 
to these expressions. O’Farrell then assured Henry 
that he had succeeded his late father to the heirship 
of the house of Stuart. 

‘‘ Sir,” said O’Farrell, '' we believe that your 
father made you acquainted with the nature of the 
undoubted proofs upon which were based his great 
claim.” 

Henry nodded his head in reply, but said noth- 
ing. 

Sir,” continued O’Farrell, we then conclude 
that you are convinced of what your rights are, 
and that you intend to take up the duty which death 
compelled your princely father to relinquish.” 

It is my intention,” replied Flenry, to perform 
the duty which my father neglected. When you 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


243 


first approached him upon this matter he should 
have given you an unqualified refusal to lend him- 
self to anything of a monarchical tendency/’ 

Sir,” urged O’Farrell, '' by ignoring what may 
be in the abstract a sound enough principle, it will 
be in your power to perform a vast amount of good 
among your fellows.” 

The spokesman of the committee now advanced 
the same arguments that had been the means of 
convincing Alfred that it would be his duty to un- 
furl the Stuart standard. But the reasoning which 
had touched the heart of Alfred did not seem to 
appeal at all strongly to Henry. The latter listened 
with seeming patience for fully an hour to the ar- 
guments of O’Farrell, and then he brought the 
interview somewhat abruptly to an end by saying: 

‘‘ Gentlemen, any further arguments from your 
spokesman would be useless. It would be impos- 
sible for me ever to violate the principle which I 
regard as so sacred a one. It will now be my duty 
to show^ you to the door.” 

It then became plain to all that it would be use- 
less to renew the attempt to reason Henry into fol- 
lowing the example of his father. Accordingly the 
committee and its advisers took their departure at 


244 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


once. As they made their way up the street, in a 
somewhat dejected manner, OTarrell said to Craig, 
who was walking beside him : 

If Henry only possessed the great heart of his 
father! 

‘‘ Perhaps, after all, his refusal may prove a bless- 
ing to the cause. I am afraid that he would have 
proved too stubborn for our purpose,’’ suggested 
Fitzpatrick, who seemed desirous of soothing the 
feelings of his companions by the fox-like argu- 
ment that the grapes were sour. 

Our hope now lies with Thomas,” said O’Far- 
rell. He will hardly prove of such a cold nature 
as Henry. By the way, Mr. Carlin, do you know 
where the younger Prince is at present? ” 

He is spending a few days at a little place called 
Strongville. It is within about two hours’ ride of 
New York.” 

‘‘ Then to-morrow evening this committee will 
go to Strongville.” 

When Ninth Avenue had been reached the six 
adherents of the Stuart cause separated. Fitzpat- 
rick did not go immediately to his home, but, in 
the hope of cheering his spirits, he started for one 
of the music-halls with the secret agent as his com- 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


245 


panion. As the pair alighted from a surface car in 
one of the most brilliantly illuminated portions of 
upper Broadway, Carlin suddenly pressed his com- 
panion's arm and whispered: 

I see the person who had the missing cipher 
letter that was addressed to you." 

‘‘ The letter you thought was likely to prove so 
dangerous to the cause?" asked the old gentle- 
man. 

‘‘ The same. He seems to be waiting for an up- 
town car. I shall follow him." 

Do so by all means, as you may succeed in 
getting that letter off your mind at last." 

Fitzpatrick glanced backward after he had 
reached the corner, and he observed the secret 
agent gazing upward with much apparent interest 
at an electric light. A moment later the old gentle- 
man saw Carlin step upon the platform of an up- 
town car. 

Fitzpatrick found little to interest him at the 
music-hall to which he paid a visit, and at a com- 
paratively early hour he returned to his home. At 
his usual time the following morning he arrived at 
his office. A few moments later the door opened 
and Carlin appeared. In the face of the secret 


246 A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 

agent was an expression of dejection which, evi- 
dently, he had not attempted to conceal. 

'‘What is the trouble,” asked Fitzpatrick; "has 
the letter again eluded your grasp? ” 

"This time I traced the person all right,” re- 
plied Carlin. " I found out who he was and where 
he lives. I won’t weary you by telling you how I 
played the confidence game on him. It is enough 
for you to know that I secured the missing letter. 
What worries me is the contents of that letter.” 

" Is it of a discouraging nature? ” asked the old 
gentleman. 

" Mr. Fitzpatrick, I was right when I feared that 
the cipher letter I saw in that fellow’s hands would 
prove dangerous to the cause. Why, sir, it knocks 
the ground clean from under our feet!” 


CHAPTER XXIL 


A LOST CAUSE. 

Fitzpatrick received with an incredulous look 
the announcement which Carlin had made. 

“ You can’t mean that, Carlin,” gasped the old 
gentleman. '' No letter from the Grand Council 
was missing, and ” 

Mr. Fitzpatrick,” interrupted the secret agent, 
'' read this, and you will be forced to think as I do.” 

As he said this Carlin produced a letter, which he 
placed in the trembling hand of the old gentleman. 
The latter examined the handwriting upon the en- 
velope, which bore the address of “ Patrick Fitz- 
patrick, Esq., New York City.” There was neither 
stamp nor postmark upon the envelope, but at one 
corner, in small characters, was written: ‘'Intro- 
ducing George Mabie.” 

“ I think that I recognize this hand,” said Fitz- 
247 


248 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


Patrick; ‘‘ it must be from Judson Thomas, an old 
acquaintance of mine, who was for some time a 
member of the Grand Council. Why, I remember 
reading that he was killed in a runaway accident in 
Durham some time in October. Surely, he could 
have been in possession of no facts that were not 
known to the Grand Council.'’ 

‘‘ I know, Mr. Fitzpatrick, that you dread look- 
ing into that letter, but I would advise you to get at 
its contents as soon as possible, and have the matter 
through with." 

The old gentleman took from the envelope a 
large double sheet of paper, all of the four pages of 
which were filled with the characters of the Stuart 
cipher. The letter, which he soon mastered by the 
aid of his key, was signed by Judson Thomas, and 
was dated the fifth day of the previous October at 
Durham, England. A free translation of the letter 
would read as follows : 

‘‘ A few days since, while visiting a friend at New- 
castle, I made a discovery which filled me with the 
deepest sorrow. Our glorious cause must now be 
abandoned. I have not the heart to break the news 
to the Grand Council, of which I was a member; 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


249 


but I communicate the facts to you so that you may 
at once cease your labors to discover the supposed 
heir of the house of Stuart. I would advise you to 
communicate to the Grand Council your suspicions 
that there exists a certain document, about which 
I shall now tell you. By this means the news would 
be broken gradually to the poor fellows of the 
Council. The friend with whom I was visiting at 
Newcastle told me of an old gentleman residing at 

]^o. Street in the same city — his name is 

Philip Stair — who had several curious old manu- 
scripts of which he was very fond. One of these 
old manuscripts, my friend said, related to certain 
adventures which took place during Prince Char- 
lie’s unfortunate campaign to secure the throne for 
his father. This was a matter which interested me 
greatly, yet for certain reasons I did not mention 
the fact to my friend. But I took advantage of an 
early opportunity to repair to the house of Mr. 
Stair, whom I finally induced to allow me to exam- 
ine the document which had aroused my curiosity. 
This I found to have been something in the nature 
of a confession, written about the year seventeen 
hundred and ninety by one Percy MacGregor, and 
by him addressed to a near relative of his. This 


250 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


MacGregor appears to have been in his younger 
days something of an adventurer. In his confession 
MacGregor stated that among his natural gifts 
were a handsome figure and a decided talent for 
penmanship. He had frequently forged names, at 
first from a mere love of adventure, and then as an 
aid in affairs of gallantry. But he had never, he 
claimed, forged for the purpose of wrongfully se- 
curing money. Chance had once thrown into his 
way some of the handwriting of Prince Charlie; 
and this he became able to imitate with great ac- 
curacy. Somewhat late in Prince Charlie’s cam- 
paign, MacGregor decided to cast his fortunes with 
the Stuarts. On his way to join a detachment of 
the young Prince’s army he met, by accident, a 
beautiful young woman named Janet Lamont. It 
seems that she mistook him for Prince Charlie him- 
self. He took advantage of her error to make love 
to Janet, to whom he had taken a passing fancy. 
The result was a marriage, in which the adventurer 
passed as the Prince, and had the hardihood to sign 
the latter’s name to the marriage certificate, mak- 
ing, from mere force of habit, a clever imitation of 
Charles Edward’s handwriting. But soon tiring 
of Janet, MacGregor pleaded the business of the 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


251 


army as an excuse for leaving the bride. He after- 
ward sent her several letters, each of which was a 
clever forgery, and which poor Janet could not but 
believe had come from Prince Charlie. About a 
year after the marriage, a comrade of MacGregor’s, 
who had passed himself off as the servant of the 
adventurer, chanced to meet the deserted bride in 
London. The fellow promised to deliver to his 
pretended master a letter which Janet wrote; and 
for once he kept his promise. MacGregor, in the 
hope of keeping the deserted wife quiet, wrote a 
letter which purported to have come from Prince 
Charlie’s father, although he did not know the 
Chevalier’s handwriting well enough to imitate this. 
In the letter Janet was urged, for certain seemingly 
powerful reasons, to refrain for the present from 
asserting her rights. MacGregor concluded his 
confession by expressing contrition for the wrong 
that he had done Janet. This letter will be brought 
to you by a respectable man named George Mabie, 
who goes to America in the hope of bettering him- 
self. I trust that you will endeavor to find for him 
a good opening. As I do not know your full ad- 
dress, I will simply direct this letter to you in New 
York, leaving it to Mabie to hunt you up.” 


252 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


'' Do you know what became of this man 
Mabie?’’ asked Fitzpatrick, when he had finished 
translating the letter. 

‘‘ Mabie was the man whose body was found last 
October floating in the bay, and which you at first 
supposed to be mine,” replied the secret agent. 

The fellow whom I swindled into letting me have 
this letter, upon the assurance that I would get it 
translated for him, is an English secret agent named 
Harriman. He says the letter was found upon 
Mabie's dead body as it lay upon one of the East 
River docks.” 

Had he been murdered, Carlin? ” 

‘‘ I believe not, Mr. Fitzpatrick. Mabie had at- 
tracted the notice of a couple of fellows who occa- 
sionally did work for Harriman. The pair imagined 
that Mabie was in some way connected with some 
proposed dynamite outrages in England, and they 
followed him. He seems to have gone out upon 
the dock, where he experienced an apoplectic 
stroke, or something of that description. At any 
rate the two fellows who had followed him found 
him dead. They took from his pockets this letter, 
together with his money and what few valuables he 
had with him. Then they flung the body into the 


river. 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


253 


'' Look at here, Carlin,’’ broke in the old gentle^ 
man, with something of a hopeful expression in his 
face, this letter may, after all, prove to be a forg- 
ery gotten up by enemies of the cause. I am not 
so well acquainted with the handwriting of Judson 
Thomas that I would be able to detect a clever 
forgery of it.” 

‘‘ It will be an easy matter for me to go at once 
to Newcastle in order to see if the alleged con- 
fession is actually in existence,” suggested Carlin. 

“ That will be the very move to make, Carlin. 
I think that the Altruria sails this afternoon.” 

'‘She does, sir; and I will sail on her.” 

" And in the meantime,” said the old gentleman, 
" the committee will not wait upon the young — I 
mean, Thomas. And should you find — as I pray 
you will not — that the statements in this letter are 
true, you should report the facts at once to the 
officers of the Grand Council in London.” 

Carlin sailed the same afternoon upon the Al- 
truria, which, after a quick winter passage, landed 
him at Liverpool. A few hours later he reached 
Newcastle. He found that Judson Thomas had met 
his death three days after the date of the letter 
which Carlin had secured from Harrinian. The 


254 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


secret agent visited old Mr. Stair, who, after some 
little hesitation, consented to produce the Mac- 
Gregor confession. The document fully bore out 
all that Judson Thomas had written concerning it. 
After finishing his examination of the confession, 
Carlin hinted to Mr. Stair that the document pos- 
sibly might not be genuine. 

This had the effect of putting the old gentleman 
upon his mettle, and he gave a history of the manu- 
script, citing certain quarters from which could be 
obtained proofs of his assertions. Carlin was now 
fully convinced that there could no longer be any 
doubt, even in Fitzpatrick's mind, as to the genuine- 
ness of the MacGregor confession, which prac- 
tically made mere waste paper of the documents 
that had so long kept alive the Stuart cause. 

Carlin at once proceeded to London, where he 
held a long interview with Chairman Barton and 
Secretary Campbell of the Grand Council. Both 
of these gentlemen were completely overwhelmed 
by the tidings. They were both finally forced to 
admit that the great enterprise would now have to 
be abandoned. Campbell stated that he would at 
once begin the work of notifying the various branch 
Councils that under the circumstances it would be 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


255 


advisable for the organizations to disband. Barton 
said that he would propose to the Grand Council 
that the general funds at their disposal should be 
divided among the branch organizations, each re- 
ceiving a sum proportionate to that which it had 
advanced in behalf of the cause. When this inter- 
view was at an end Carlin decided that he would 
send to Fitzpatrick a cable message which would 
immediately settle the matter in the old gentleman’s 
mind and prevent him from indulging in any fur- 
ther false hopes. The secret agent did not go to 
the trouble of placing in cipher the message which 
he sent to Fitzpatrick, and which ran as follows: 

‘‘ The cause is lost.” 

Carlin took passage for New York on the steam- 
ship Altruria, and when he had boarded the vessel 
at Liverpool he observed among his fellow-passen- 
gers a pretty young woman, whose face, at first 
glance, seemed familiar to him. He scanned her 
closely, and then he recognized her as the former 
flame of poor Tom Martel. Bessie was accom- 
panied by her elderly husband, Augustus Barlow, 
over which unfortunate she exercised the most 
heartless tyranny. As the voyage advanced, Mrs. 
Barlow succeeded in gathering around her nearly 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


256 

all of the gallantly inclined young men among the 
saloon passengers. If, when surrounded by a group 
of these temporary slaves, she beheld her venerable 
husband approaching she would reward the poor 
old boy with a stony look that told him to pause — 
which he generally did. Then Barlow would go 
off by himself and gaze down reflectively upon the 
waves. Carlin saw the bridegroom thus engaged 
one morning as he was taking his constitutional 
upon the upper deck. 

'' It seems a pity,'’ thought the secret agent, 

that Barlow should have been induced to make 
such a great sacrifice — all for nothing.” 

The evening after Carlin had arrived in New 
York he removed the disguise which he had worn 
for some weeks. Then he made a call, in company 
with Fitzpatrick, upon Henry Martel. The latter 
received his callers in a very cold manner. He 
evidently was under the impression that Fitzpatrick 
had come to again urge him to place himself at 
the head of the Stuart sympathizers. Fitzpatrick, 
however, explained to the young man the turn 
which affairs had recently assumed. Henry was 
taken completely by surprise, and he was unable to 
conceal from his callers the fact that he was greatly 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


257 


annoyed by what Fitzpatrick had communicated to 
him. He was perfectly sincere in his principles of 
opposition to everything of a monarchical char- 
acter. Still there was enough of vanity in the com- 
position of his character to cause him to regret the 
fact that he was not, after all, the heir of the house 
of Stuart. 

After their interview with Henry, the secret agent 
accompanied Fitzpatrick to the homes of several 
of the members of the New York Council, with 
whom brief consultations were held in regard to the 
disbanding of the Stuart organizations in America. 
Later in the evening the old gentleman and his 
companion entered a fashionable restaurant and 
called for a light supper. While they were waiting 
for the arrival of what they had ordered, Carlin 
told his companion of his having seen Barlow and 
his bride upon the Altruria. 

‘‘ Poor Barlow,’’ said Fitzpatrick, “ I am sorry 
for him; but he was certainly the means of saving 
poor Tom from ” 

‘'Look, Mr. Fitzpatrick!” interrupted Carlin, 
nodding his head in the direction of one of the 
tables upon the opposite side of the room ; “ there 
is Tom now.” 


17 


258 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD, 


Fitzpatrick looked in the direction indicated, and 
he saw Tom Martel seated at a table in company 
with a pretty young woman. The latter was a trifle 
shorter than was her predecessor, Bessie. And the 
new flame was also a trifle plumper and a trifle 
prettier and a trifle more baby-faced than was the 
former Miss Simpson. Tom was engaged in gaz- 
ing at his new sweetheart with an expression which 
seemed to indicate the very highest admiration and 
the very deepest devotion. There was, however, in 
the young woman's face an expression suggestive 
of discontent. It is more than likely that she was 
at that moment meditating upon the advisability of 
administering to her faithful swain a few reproofs, 
which he might or might not have merited. 

“ Poor boy," muttered Fitzpatrick. ‘‘ But I sup- 
pose there are other fellows that you couldn't save 
if you tried." 

After their supper Fitzpatrick and Carlin took a 
stroll. 

'' It is too bad," mused the old gentleman, that 
neither of the sons inherited the great qualities of 
the Prince " 

'' But you forget," interrupted Carlin, that 
after all he was not a descendant of the Stuarts." 


A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD. 


259 


“I forget nothing/’ replied Pltzpatrick. “Though 
he may not have been a Stuart, he was, through his 
mother, descended from John Sobieski of Poland, 
as was Prince Charlie himself. That accounts for 
the resemblance of poor Tom to the picture of the 
last of the Stuarts. In the veins of Alfred Martel 
ran the blood of a great king. But it was not his 
blood that ennobled our hero; it was his deeds. 
Yes, he was a Prince.” 



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